Proverbs 30:14

Proverbs 30:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
• New International Version (NIV)those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
• New King James Version (NKJV)There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

Context of Proverbs 30:14

12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth. 13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances— there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men. 15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: 16Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

Proverbs 30:14 word by word

דּ֤וֹר׀ חֲרָב֣וֹת שִׁנָּיו֮ וּֽמַאֲכָל֪וֹת מְֽתַלְּעֹ֫תָ֥יו לֶאֱכֹ֣ל עֲנִיִּ֣ים מֵאֶ֑רֶץ וְ֝אֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים מֵאָדָֽם׃ פRead the interlinear

• there is a generationדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• whose teethשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
• are swordsחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• and whose jawsמְתַלְּעוֹתmethalle‛âh · jawH4973
• are knivesמַאֲכֶ֫לֶתma'ăkeleth · knifeH3979
• devouringאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• the oppressedעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
• from the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and the needyאֶבְיוֹן'ebyôn · needyH34
• from among menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:14

• Proverbs 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Job 29:17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
• Psalms 3:7Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
• Psalms 57:4My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• Psalms 58:6O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
• Daniel 7:5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
• Revelation 9:8They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions.
• Proverbs 22:16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
• Proverbs 28:3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
• Psalms 10:8He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
• Psalms 12:5“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
• Psalms 14:4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
• Isaiah 32:7The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
• Amos 2:7They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name.

Commentaries on Proverbs 30:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14The fourth, The greedy, cruel, and oppressive, and, especially, oppressive to the poor.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-14Verses 11-14 In every age there are monsters of ingratitude who ill-treat their parents. Many persuade themselves they are holy persons, whose hearts are full of sin, and who practise secret wickedness. There are others whose lofty pride is manifest. There have also been cruel monsters in every age.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-14These verses describe traits that wise people dislike. Fools: Disrespect their parents (Proverbs 10:1; 20:20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) Deceive themselves (Proverbs 8:7) Think they are clean when they are not (Proverbs 20:9) Are proud (Proverbs 6:17–18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; 19:20; 29:23) Hurt others with their words (teeth like swords, see Proverbs 25:18) Harm the poor (Proverbs 3:27; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14)Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1411-14. Four kinds of hateful persons--(1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4) cruel oppressors (compare on Pr 30:14; Psa 14:4; 52:2)--are now illustrated; (1) Pr 30:15, 16, the insatiability of prodigal children and their fate; (2) Pr 30:17, hypocrisy, or the concealment of real character; (3 and 4) Pr 30:18-20, various examples of pride and oppression.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 30:14

• Malice
• Oppression
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Knife
• Jaw; Jawbone; Jaw Teeth
• Massa
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Zoology

Commentaries on Proverbs 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings