English Standard Version
Proverbs 30:14
14There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.
Context of Proverbs 30:14
12There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. 13There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. 15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough": 16Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, "Enough."
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 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 whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Job 29:17I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
- Psalms 3:7Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
- Psalms 57:4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 58:6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
- Daniel 7:5And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.'
- Revelation 9:8their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth;
- Proverbs 22:16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
- Proverbs 28:3A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.
- Psalms 10:8He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
- Psalms 12:5"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
- Psalms 14:4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?
- Ecclesiastes 4:1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
- Isaiah 32:7As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.
- Amos 2:7those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;
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
In the dictionaries
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
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