PROV 30:21 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 30:1–33: Here are the sayings of Agur

This section is a collection of verses that were written or organized by Agur the son of Jakeh.Some scholars think that Agur wrote or collected only verses 1–4, 1–6, 1–9, or 1–14. UBS (page 617), Toy (page 518), and Longman (page 513) are among those who list some of these possibilities. The GNT indicates with quotation marks that Agur’s words end after v.6. No other versions indicate that Agur’s words end before the end of the chapter. Waltke (volume I, page 26) strongly defends the entire chapter as the “oracle” of Agur on the basis of its structural unity. Kidner (page 178) divides the chapter into two sections (1–9) and (10–33), but identifies both as coming from “the sage.” The title of this section (30:1a) is the only place in Scripture that Agur is mentioned. The section is divided into paragraphs that vary from one to five verses. The Notes will suggest a paragraph heading for all paragraphs after 30:1a. It is suggested that you use similar headings in your translation to help the readers follow the changes of topic and audience.

The first nine verses contain Agur’s personal thoughts and prayers. Some are addressed to God, others to his audience. The rest of the chapter contains proverbs on various topics. Some are individual warnings or statements (30:10, 17, 20, 32–33). Others contain several kinds of lists of four items each. The lists in verses 15b–16, 18–19, 21–23, and 29–31 have the same form as the numerical proverb in 6:16–19. (See the paragraph summary for 6:16–19 and the notes on 6:16a–b.) The lists in verses 11–14 and 24–28 have different forms. These will be described in the paragraph summaries where they first occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

The Words of Agur (ESV)

Wise Words from Agur (NCV)

Words that the LORD caused Agur to make known

Paragraph 30:21–23 Four types of people that cannot be tolerated

This is a numerical proverb that has the same form as 30:18–19. The author lists four types of people who unexpectedly experience an improved change in status.Ross (page 1125) says that the four types of people “are suddenly elevated in their status in life.” Longman (page 531) says that the “order and hierarchy” in society “is disturbed.” UBS (page 637) speaks of “people who experience a change in their fortunes.” As a result, their attitude and conduct cannot be tolerated.

30:21

The parallel structure here is similar to 30:18–19, including the ellipsis in the second line.

^21a Under three things the earth trembles,

^21b under four it cannot bear up:

The parts in bold print are humorous hyperbole.Hubbard, Ross, and McKane all identify the hyperbole as humorous or whimsical. UBS mentions the humor, and Fox mentions the hyperbole. They describe the response of the earth itself to the changes in society that are listed in 30:21–23. Along with the deliberate exaggeration, they also use a figure of speech (metonymy) in which the earth represents the people on the earth.Fox, Delitzsch, UBS, and McKane all say that “the earth” is a metonymy for the people of the earth. Waltke (page 493) says that it is a metonymy for “the planet’s social order.”

30:21a

Under three things the earth trembles,

¶ Here/These are three things that cause the earth to shake/tremble.
¶ Three things cause the people in this world to stumble and almost fall.
¶ There are some things that make people tremble/shudder.

Under three things the earth trembles: The word trembles here means “quakes,” “shudders,” or “totters.” The earth figuratively shudders in implied dismay, worry, or disgust. Some other ways to translate this line are:

Refer to the earth. Keep the hyperbole. For example:
There are three things that make the earth tremble (NCV)
Refer to the earth. Do not keep the hyperbole. For example:
Three situations disturb the earth (VOICE)
Refer to the people. Keep the hyperbole. For example:
Three things cause the people of this world to totter and almost fall.
Refer to the people. Do not keep the hyperbole. For example:
The people of this world get disturbed by three things.

30:21a–b

(combined/reordered)

There are four things that cause the earth to shake and then collapse.
Here are four things that people on earth cannot endure.

30:21b

under four it cannot bear up:

Four things cause it to collapse under the heavy weight.
In fact, four things are not possible for them to endure.

under four it cannot bear up: This line intensifies the meaning of the preceding line. In 30:21a, the earth figuratively shakes and trembles. In this line, it figuratively collapses under a heavy burden that it cannot carry. Some other ways to translate this line are:

General Comment on 30:21a–b

Keep the hyperbole and refer to the earth. For example:
Four things cause it to collapse under the heavy weight
Refer to the earth. Do not keep the hyperbole. For example:
Four things it cannot endure.
Keep the hyperbole. Refer to the people. For example:
In fact, four things are impossible for them to endure.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

There are four things that the earth itself cannot tolerate: (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

[30:21](../30/21.md)–[23](../30/23.md) is the fourth of six numerical sayings in this chapter. See the discussion of numerical sayings in the Chapter Introduction for this chapter.

Note 1 topic: writing-poetry

תַּ֣חַת שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ רָ֣גְזָה אֶ֑רֶץ וְ⁠תַ֥חַת אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל שְׂאֵֽת

below/instead_of three trembles earth/land and,under four not able to_elevate/lift_up

This is poetic language. If your language has a way to indicate poetry, you could use it here.bTo make a comprehensive statement, Agur is using a rhetorical device in which the speaker names a number that should be sufficient to illustrate his point and then increases that number by one for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Since the meaning of both clauses is similar, you could also combine them into one clause. See how you translated the similar use of three things and four in [30:15](../30/15.md). Alternate translation: “Under these four things the earth truly shakes”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

תַּ֣חַת שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ רָ֣גְזָה & וְ⁠תַ֥חַת אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע & שְׂאֵֽת

below/instead_of three trembles & and,under four & to_elevate/lift_up

Agur says quakes and hold up here as extreme statements to emphasize how intolerable the things in the following verses are for the earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: “Because of three things … shudder, and because of four … to endure”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֶ֑רֶץ & לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל

earth/land & not able

Here, the earth and it refer to the people who live on the earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the people on the earth … they are not able”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 30:21

Hebrew word order