PROV 30:27 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 30:24–28 Four things that are small but very wise

This paragraph is a list of four items, but it is not introduced with the parallel numbers three and four like the numerical proverb in 30:21–23. The first verse introduces two contrasting characteristics which are true of each item in the list. The first line of each verse describes an apparent weakness or disadvantage of a particular animal. The second line describes the unexpected way that the animal makes up for the disadvantage.

30:27

The parts in bold print contrast the locusts’ lack of a leader with their ability to move forward in well-organized groups.

^27athe locusts have no king,

^27byet they all advance in formation;

30:27a

the locusts have no king,

Locusts have no commander/ruler,
The third are the locusts. They have no one to lead/direct them,

the locusts have no king: Kings in Israel often led their armies in battle. The phrase the locusts have no king means that they have no commander or leader that orders them where to go. Another way to translate this clause is:

While locusts live without a ruler (VOICE)

locusts: In areas where locusts are not known, another way to translate this term is to use the word for a related insect. You should choose an insect that is known to have no leader and moves in orderly formations. For example:

grasshopper

army ant

30:27b

yet they all advance in formation;

yet they swarm/fly like soldiers in orderly ranks/columns.
but they are organized when they accompany one another.

yet they all advance in formation: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as in formation is literally “dividing.” When locusts fly somewhere, they divide into orderly swarms similar to the formation or columns of marching soldiers in an army. Some other ways to translate this line are:

they all know how to move in formation (VOICE)

yet all of them go out in ranks (NASB)

yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct (GW)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לָ⁠אַרְבֶּ֑ה & כֻּלּֽ⁠וֹ

for,locust & of_it_of,all

Here, the locust and it represent locusts in general, not one particular locust. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “for locusts … every one of them”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֖א חֹצֵ֣ץ

and=he/it_went_out in_ranks

Here Agur speaks of the orderly ways that locusts travel as if they were an army of soldiers who go out divided into groups. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “but … move together in an organized manner” or “but … march ahead like ranks of soldiers”

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.