Proverbs 30:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.

NIV: Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.

NASB: I am certainly more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man;

CSB: I am more stupid than any other person, and I lack a human’s ability to understand.

NLT: I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.

KJV: Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

NKJV: Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man.

Scripture often uses a technique called "hyperbole:" exaggeration for effect. Such phrases are meant to be understood as excessive, yet the point is clear. In English, parents may claim "I've told my children a million times," using this same poetic style. Here, Agur expresses his lack of wisdom, because he understands that God is perfectly wise (Proverbs 30:3–4). Compared to God, Agur's mind is nothing. He realizes his understanding is closer to that of an animal: the phrasing used here is applied in other Scriptures to mean something animalistic (Psalm 73:22). Alternatively, if Ithiel and Ucal (Proverbs 30:1) are challenging Agur, he may be sarcastically saying they are much smarter than he is.

The real point of these words is the impossibility of understanding God and spiritual truth using nothing more than one's own flawed wisdom. Nicodemus was a learned rabbi and a leader among the Jews. But he could not comprehend spiritual truth. Jesus asked him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?" (John 3:10). Left to himself, every unbeliever is blind to spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Proverbs 30:1–4 introduces a new voice in the book of Proverbs. Most interpreters believe this is a reference to a person named Agur, who speaks to Ithiel and Ucal. Others interpret the Hebrew letters as references to personal weariness. The writer begins by proclaiming his own ignorance, seeming to exaggerate for the sake of effect. Agur desires to know God. The verses that follow explain how limited people can come to know the all-powerful Creator. Similar themes are seen in Psalm 8:3–4; Acts 14:15–17; and Acts 17:26–30.

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.