God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 30:21
21Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under:
Proverbs 30:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
- New International Version (NIV)“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
- English Standard Version (ESV)Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:
- New King James Version (NKJV)For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
Context of Proverbs 30:21
19an eagle making its way through the sky, a snake making its way over a rock, a ship making its way through high seas, a man making his way with a virgin. 20This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I haven’t done anything wrong!” Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under: 22a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food, 23a woman who is unloved when she gets married, a maid when she replaces her mistress.
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:21 word by word
תַּ֣חַת שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ רָ֣גְזָה אֶ֑רֶץ וְתַ֥חַת אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל שְׂאֵֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear - This is another enigma. Four things insupportable to men. 1. A slave, when he becomes ruler. 2. An overfed fool. 3. An ill-tempered woman, when mistress of a family. And, 4. A servant maid, when the rule of the house is committed to her. A slave, when he comes to bear rule, is an unprincipled tyrant. It has been often observed both in America and in the West Indies, when it was…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For four which it cannot bear - Better: four it cannot bear. Here the common element is that of being intolerable, and the four examples are divided equally between the two sexes. Each has its examples of power and prosperity misused because they fall to the lot of those who have no training for them, and are therefore in the wrong place.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-23Verses 21-23 Four sorts of persons are very troublesome. Men of low origin and base spirit, who, getting authority, become tyrants. Foolish and violent men indulging in excesses. A woman of a contentious spirit and vicious habits. A servant who has obtained undue influence. Let those whom Providence has advanced from low beginnings, carefully watch against that sin which most easily besets them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-23This proverb lists four things that make the earth tremble because they disrupt the natural order. who is filled with food: In the ancient Near East, as in many non-industrialized parts of the world today, having enough food was a sign of prosperity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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