The Meaning of Proverbs 30:21 Explained

Proverbs 30:21

KJV: For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

YLT: For three things hath earth been troubled, And for four -- it is not able to bear:

Darby: Under three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:

ASV: For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For three  [things] the earth  is disquieted,  and for four  [which] it cannot  bear: 

What does Proverbs 30:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 30:18-33 - Lessons From Common Things
We have four more quatrains.
1. There are the four wonders that baffle Agur's understanding. How superficial is our knowledge! How does the eagle mount the air, or the serpent find a hold on the slippery rock, or a ship plow her way across the deep, or a man and woman fall in love by a secret interchange of heart which no one else perceives? And further how can a sinner continue to sin without experiencing remorse?
2. There are four intolerable conditions: a slave in authority, a pampered fool, an ill-assorted marriage, and a slave-girl, like Hagar, preferred to her mistress.
3. There are four kinds of animals which prove that it is possible to be insignificant and yet be wise: the ant, the cony, the locust, and the lizard, r.v.
4. There are four things which give the idea of stateliness in motion: a lion, a greyhound, a he-goat, and a king "against whom there is no rising up." This remarkable collection ends with an exhortation to the repression of anger. Sometimes to refuse to express one's passion is the surest way of killing it. Treat it like a room on fire. Shut door and window, that it may die for want of air. Ask God's holy sunlight to replace the unholy heat of your soul. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 30

1  Agur's confession of his faith
7  The two points of his prayer
10  The meanest are not to be wronged
11  Four wicked generations
15  Four things insatiable
24  four things exceeding wise
29  Four things stately
32  Wrath is to be prevented

What do the individual words in Proverbs 30:21 mean?

For three [things] is perturbed the earth and Yes for four cannot it bear up
תַּ֣חַת שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ רָ֣גְזָה אֶ֑רֶץ וְתַ֥חַת אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־ תוּכַ֥ל שְׂאֵֽת

שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ  three  [things] 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
רָ֣גְזָה  is  perturbed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רָגַז  
Sense: tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed.
אֶ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְתַ֥חַת  and  Yes  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע  four 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
לֹא־  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שְׂאֵֽת  bear  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 30:21?

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