Proverbs 30 is the 30th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in Proverbs 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period. This chapter first records "the sayings of Agur", followed by a collection of epigrams and aphorisms.
The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 30 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; <sup>B</sup>; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: <sup>S</sup>; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; <sup>A</sup>; 5th century).
Michael Fox,an American biblical scholar, divides this chapter into sections:
This collection is ascribed to an unknown non-Israelite sage (cf. also ). Fox suggests that it could have been appended to Proverbs because of its valuable cautionary comments and the exaltation of the Torah. The closeness 'in word and spirit' to Psalm 73 is noted as Agur, like the psalmist, combines confession of ignorance with a profession of faith and exultation in the insight that comes from God alone, while urging people to turn directly to God as a safeguard against temptation.
Aberdeen theologian Kenneth Aitken notes that Agur's sayings may not extend beyond verse 14, as the first 14 verses are separate from verses 15 onwards in the Septuagint, but also comments that "opinion is divided on whether they end before verse 14" (possible at verses 4, 6, or 9). The editors of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, suggest that the "original literary unit" probably consisted of verses 1 to 6.
After the collection of most of the sayings in the book of Proverbs have been listed, Agur the collector is tired not unlike the ending of Ecclesiastes. "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." Ecclesiastes 12:12.
Like those in Job 38âÂÂ41, these rhetorical questions emphasize "the inscrutability of God's ways".
Agur raises a question âÂÂWho shall go into heaven and come downâ in Proverbs 30:4 and it is answered in the New Testament by Christ's in His discourse with Nicodemus in John 3:13 In John 3:13, Jesus states, "No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man."
Proverbs 30:4 is also alluded to in the epistles several places. Romans 10:6-7 emphasizes that righteousness comes through faith in Christ's work, not human effort to ascend or descend. Ephesians 4:9-10 highlights Christ's descent to earth and ascent to heaven, fulfilling God's sovereign plan over all creation, echoing the mystery in Proverbs 30:4
The editors of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, suggest that the original Agur text probably ended with these verses, because the first six verses reflect a single contrast between human fragility (and ignorance) and divine power (and knowledge).
This part contains various epigrams and three short aphorisms in the midst. Most of the epigrams (similar to ) take the form of lists. Epigrams i and vii contain unnumbered lists whose items are grouped by theme and anaphora (each line starts with the same word). Epigram v is a single-number list with four items. Epigrams ii, iii, iv, and vi are numerical proverbs, in the form "Three things ⦠and four". The final item in the series is usually the climax and focal point.