Proverbs 30:24

Proverbs 30:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
• New International Version (NIV)“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
• New King James Version (NKJV)There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

Context of Proverbs 30:24

22Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat; 23under an odious [woman] when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress. There are four [things] little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise: 25The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; 26the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff;

Proverbs 30:24 word by word

אַרְבָּ֣עָה הֵ֭ם קְטַנֵּי־אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים מְחֻכָּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• littleקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:24

• Job 12:7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;

Commentaries on Proverbs 30:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24There be four things - Of which it is said, they are very little but very wise. 1. The ants. 2. The rabbits. 3. The locusts. 4. The spider. The ants show their wisdom by preparing their meat in the summer, seeking for it and storing it when it may be had; not for winter consumption, for they sleep all that time; but for autumn and spring. See the note on Proverbs 6:6; (note). The ants are a people; they have their houses, towns, cities, public roads, etc…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Exceeding wise - Some prefer the reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate: “wiser than the wise.” The thought, in either case, turns upon the marvels of instinct, which, in their own province, transcend the more elaborate results of human wisdom.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-28Verses 24-28 Four things that are little, are yet to be admired. There are those who are poor in the world, and of small account, yet wise for their souls and another world.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-28Here is another example of number parallelism: small, seemingly insignificant animals can be surprisingly powerful and resourceful.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3124-31. 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 (Pr 30:25-28), 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 (Pr 30:30, 31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 30:24

• Riddle

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Coney
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Four
• Massa
• Number
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Wisdom

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