---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Proverbs 30"
description: "CHAPTER 30   :-. 1. This is the title of this
chapter (see  :-). the prophecy—literally,
\"the burden\" (compare Isaiah 13:1;
Zechariah 9:1), used for any d"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/30"
---

CHAPTER 30

.

**1.** This is the title of this
chapter (see ).
**the prophecy**—literally,
"the burden" (compare [Isaiah 13:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/1);
[Zechariah 9:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/9/1)), used for any divine
instruction; not necessarily a prediction, which was only a kind of
prophecy ([1 Chronicles 15:27](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/15/27), "a
song"). Prophets were inspired men, who spoke for God to man, or
for man to God ([Genesis 20:7](../../../kjv/genesis/20/7); [Exodus 7:14](../../../kjv/exodus/7/14);
[Exodus 7:15](../../../kjv/exodus/7/15); [Exodus 7:16](../../../kjv/exodus/7/16)).
Such, also, were the New Testament prophets. In a general sense, Gad,
Nathan, and others were such, who were divine teachers, though we do
not learn that they ever predicted.
**the man spake**—literally,
"the saying of the man"; an expression used to denote any
solemn and important announcement (compare [2 Samuel 23:1](../../../kjv/2-samuel/23/1);
[Psalms 36:1](../../../kjv/psalms/36/1); [Psalms 110:1](../../../kjv/psalms/110/1);
[Isaiah 1:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/24), &c.). Ithiel and
Ucal were perhaps pupils.

**2-4. brutish**—stupid, a strong
term to denote his lowly self-estimation; or he may speak of such as
his natural condition, as contrasted with God's all-seeing
comprehensive knowledge and almighty power. The questions of this
clause emphatically deny the attributes mentioned to be those of any
creature, thus impressively strengthening the implied reference of
the former to God (compare [Deuteronomy 30:12-14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/30/12-14);
[Isaiah 40:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/12); [Ephesians 4:8](../../../kjv/ephesians/4/8)).

**5.** (Compare [Psalms 12:6](../../../kjv/psalms/12/6);
[Psalms 119:140](../../../kjv/psalms/119/140)).

**6. Add . . . words**—implying
that his sole reliance was on God's all-sufficient teaching.
**reprove thee**—or,
"convict thee"—and so the falsehood will appear.

**7-9.** A prayer for exemption from
wickedness, and the extremes of poverty and riches, the *two things*
mentioned. Contentment is implied as desired.

**8. vanity**—all sorts of sinful
acts ([Job 11:11](../../../kjv/job/11/11); [Isaiah 5:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/18)).

**9. be full . . . deny**—that is,
puffed up by the pride of prosperity.
**take the name . . . vain**—This
is not (*Hebrew*) the form (compare ), but "take" rather denotes laying violent hold on
any thing; that is, lest I assail God's name or attributes, as
justice, mercy, &c., which the poor are tempted to do.

**10. Accuse not**—Slander not ().
**curse . . . guilty**—lest,
however lowly, he be exasperated to turn on thee, and your guilt be
made to appear.

**11-14.** Four kinds of hateful
persons—(1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4)
cruel oppressors (compare on [Proverbs 30:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/14);
[Psalms 14:4](../../../kjv/psalms/14/4); [Psalms 52:2](../../../kjv/psalms/52/2))
—are now illustrated; (1) [Proverbs 30:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/15);
[Proverbs 30:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/16), the insatiability of
prodigal children and their fate; (2) [Proverbs 30:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/16), hypocrisy, or the concealment of real character; (3 and 4)
[Proverbs 30:18-20](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/18-20), various
examples of pride and oppression.

**15, 16. horse leech**—supposed
by some to be the vampire (a fabulous creature), as being literally
insatiable; but the other subjects mentioned must be taken as this,
comparatively insatiable. The use of a fabulous creature agreeably to
popular notions is not inconsistent with inspiration.
**There are three . . . yea,
four**—(Compare [Proverbs 6:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/16)).

**17. The eye**—for the person,
with reference to the use of the organ to express mockery and
contempt, and also as that by which punishment is received.
**the ravens . . . eagles . . .
eat**—either as dying unnaturally, or being left unburied, or
both.

**18-20.** Hypocrisy is illustrated
by four examples of the concealment of all methods or traces of
action, and a pertinent example of double dealing in actual vice is
added, that is, the *adulterous woman.*

**20. she eateth . . . mouth**—that
is, she hides the evidences of her shame and professes innocence.

**21-23.** Pride and cruelty, the
undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices
which disquiet society (compare [Proverbs 19:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/10);
[Proverbs 28:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/28/3)).

**23. heir . . . mistress**—that
is, takes her place as a wife ().

**24-31.** These verses provide two
classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world,
which the reader is left to apply. By the first (), diligence and providence are commended; the success of
these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity
and activity, rather than strength. The other class ([Proverbs 30:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/30);
[Proverbs 30:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/31)) provides similes for
whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

**26. conies**—mountain mice, or
rabbits.

**24-31.** These verses provide two
classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world,
which the reader is left to apply. By the first (), diligence and providence are commended; the success of
these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity
and activity, rather than strength. The other class ([Proverbs 30:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/30);
[Proverbs 30:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/31)) provides similes for
whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

**28. spider**—tolerated, even in
palaces, to destroy flies.
**taketh . . . hands**—or,
uses with activity the limbs provided for taking prey.

**24-31.** These verses provide two
classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world,
which the reader is left to apply. By the first (), diligence and providence are commended; the success of
these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity
and activity, rather than strength. The other class ([Proverbs 30:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/30);
[Proverbs 30:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/31)) provides similes for
whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

**32.** As none can hope,
successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an
attempt.
**lay . . . hand upon thy
mouth**—"lay" is well supplied ([Judges 18:19](../../../kjv/judges/18/19);
[Job 29:9](../../../kjv/job/29/9); [Job 40:4](../../../kjv/job/40/4)).

**33.** That is, strife—or other
ills, as surely arise from devising evil as natural effects from
natural causes.

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