Proverbs 30:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;

NIV: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

NASB: The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

CSB: ants are not a strong people, yet they store up their food in the summer;

NLT: Ants — they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.

KJV: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

NKJV: The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

Ants are Agur's first example (Proverbs 30:24) of insignificant creatures which still accomplish great things. Ants demonstrate their "wisdom"—here meaning common sense or application of knowledge—by preparing for cold weather by storing food in the summer. This was used as a direct contrast to the foolishness of lazing around when one ought to be preparing fields for a harvest (Proverbs 6:6–11). Ants are relatively tiny; even a colony makes up less weight than a small person. Yet these creatures survive and provide for their young all the same.

Typically, an ant can lift as much as twenty times its own weight. A colony of ants can produce thousands of workers whose main job is to gather food for the next generation. Although they cannot "hear," in the same way as other animals, ants interpret vibrations they feel from the ground through their feet. Agur marveled at the wisdom of these industrious little creatures. This is part of a wider biblical theme: that God can accomplish great things using the meekest of instruments (1 Corinthians 1:27–28).

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.

Accessed 5/5/2024 7:38:56 AM