English Standard Version
Proverbs 30:19
19the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin.
Proverbs 30:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
- New International Version (NIV)the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.
- New Living Translation (NLT)how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.
Context of Proverbs 30:19
17The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. 18Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin. 20This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I have done no wrong." 21Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:19 word by word
דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַנֶּ֨שֶׁר׀ בַּשָּׁמַיִם֮ דֶּ֥רֶךְ נָחָ֗שׁ עֲלֵ֫י צ֥וּר דֶּֽרֶךְ־אֳנִיָּ֥ה בְלֶב־יָ֑ם וְדֶ֖רֶךְ גֶּ֣בֶר בְּעַלְמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- of an eagleנֶשֶׁרnesher · eagleH5404
- in the airשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- of a serpentנָחָשׁnâchâsh · serpentH5175
- upon a rockצוּרtsûr tsûr · rockH6697
- of a shipאֳנִיָּה'onîyâh · a shipH591
- in the midstלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- of the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- of a manגָּבֶרgeber · great manH1397
- with a maidעַלְמָה‛almâh · young womanH5959
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:19
- Job 39:27Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?
- Isaiah 40:31but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
- Exodus 22:16"If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The way of an eagle - I borrow, with thanks, the very sensible note of the Rev. Mr. Holden on this passage. "The particle כן ken plainly shows that Proverbs 30:19; and Proverbs 30:20; are to be taken in connection; consequently, it is a comparison between the way of an adulterous woman, and the way of the things here described. "The adulterous woman goes about in search of her deluded victim, like as the eagle takes its flight into the air to spy out its…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Another enigma. The four things of Proverbs 30:16 agreed in the common point of insatiableness; the four now mentioned agree in this, that they leave no trace behind them. Proverbs 30:19 The way of a man with a maid - The act of sin leaves no outward mark upon the sinners.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Four things cannot be fully known. The kingdom of nature is full of marvels. The fourth is a mystery of iniquity; the cursed arts by which a vile seducer gains the affections of a female; and the arts which a vile woman uses to conceal her wickedness.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19The writer is amazed at how one thing affects another.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:19
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries