Proverbs 30:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:

NIV: "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:

NASB: There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

CSB: Three things are too wondrous for me; four I can’t understand:

NLT: There are three things that amaze me — no, four things that I don’t understand:

KJV: There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

NKJV: There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand:

Agur (Proverbs 30:1) confesses that he does not understand four things. This applies a literary counting technique commonly seen in ancient writing (Proverbs 6:16; Job 5:19; Amos 1:3). In the early part of his teaching, Agur humbly admitted his own limitations (Proverbs 30:2–3). Of course, some of that might have been a sarcastic reply to a critic. However, he was not pretending to be perfect in his understanding. His prayer was for God's will to be done in his life (Proverbs 30:7–8).

The world is full of mysteries. Who can understand the complexities of God's creation? We know plants grow from seeds, but do we understand the process? When we learn how one mechanism works, we discover even deeper and more complex processes. We know birds migrate, but do we understand how they know to go to their precise destination? We know salmon swim upstream to their spawning location, but we do not understand how they know how to go there. We know all creation operates by established laws, but do we understand how God created all things and governs its existence? All these mysteries are understood only by our Lord, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).

In Proverbs 30:15–31 Agur (Proverbs 30:1) gives several numerical observations. He lists four things which never lead to satisfaction, only increased desire. Another four ideas are said to be "wonderful," here meant in the sense of being hard to grasp. Next are four examples of the dangers of putting people in sudden positions of power. Then, four seemingly humble animals who achieve great tasks. The last is a series of examples showing the "stately" nature of confidence.

This chapter contains the teachings of Agur, who is only known through this passage. Humility and a sense of one's own limitations are key themes in this section. Agur prays for God's providence and warns about the sins of arrogance, greed, and rebelliousness. He marvels at how the ungodly can sin without care, not realizing their fate. He then notes the way some insignificant animals accomplish great things and comments on the effects of confidence. The chapter ends with a reminder that stirring up anger leads to trouble.

This chapter falls between a collection of Solomon's wise sayings (Proverbs 25—29) and King Lemuel's proverbs (Proverbs 31). Chapter 30 contains the wise sayings of Agur, who is otherwise unknown. He may have been the son of Jakeh. His teachings are called an oracle: a weighty message from God. Humility and warnings about arrogance are recurring themes in this chapter.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.