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 that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filth. 13There is a generation — how haughty its eyes and pretentious its looks. There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, devouring the oppressed from the land and the needy from among mankind. 15The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give!” Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”: 16Sheol; a childless womb; earth, which is never satisfied with water; and fire, which never says, “Enough!”

Proverbs 30:14 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• a generationדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• whose teethשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
• swordsחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• and their jaw teethמְתַלְּעוֹתmethalle‛âh · jawH4973
• knivesמַאֲכֶ֫לֶתma'ăkeleth · knifeH3979
• to devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• the poorעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
• from off the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and the needyאֶבְיוֹן'ebyôn · needyH34
• menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:14

• Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks rashly, 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 3:7Rise up, Lord! Save me, my God! You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
• Psalms 52:2Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.
• Psalms 57:4I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions — people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• Psalms 58:6God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.
• Daniel 7:5“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’
• Revelation 9:8they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth;
• Proverbs 22:16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty.
• Proverbs 28:3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
• Psalms 10:8He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
• Psalms 12:5“Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”
• Psalms 14:4Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.
• Isaiah 32:7The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies, even when the poor person says what is right.
• Amos 2:7They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the ground and obstruct the path of the needy. A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl, profaning 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