New English Translation
Proverbs 30:4
4Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know!
Proverbs 30:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
- New International Version (NIV)Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
- English Standard Version (ESV)Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?
Context of Proverbs 30:4
2Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding; 3I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know! 5Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him. 6Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:4 word by word
מִ֤י עָלָֽה־שָׁמַ֨יִם׀ וַיֵּרַ֡ד מִ֤י אָֽסַף־ר֨וּחַ׀ בְּחָפְנָ֡יו מִ֤י צָֽרַר־מַ֨יִם׀ בַּשִּׂמְלָ֗ה מִ֭י הֵקִ֣ים כָּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ מַה־שְּׁמ֥וֹ וּמַֽה־שֶּׁם־בְּ֝נ֗וֹ כִּ֣י תֵדָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Who hath ascended upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- into heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- or descendedיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- who hath gatheredאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
- the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
- in his fistsחֹ֫פֶןchôphen · palmH2651
- who hath boundצָרַרtsârar · to constrainH6887
- the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- in a garmentשִׂמְלָהώimlâh · mantleH8071
- who hath establishedקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- all the endsאֶ֫פֶס'ephes · endH657
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- his son’sבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- if thou canst tellיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:4
- Deuteronomy 30:12It is not in heaven, as though one must say, “Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
- John 3:13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven – the Son of Man.
- Romans 10:6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)
- Ephesians 4:9Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!
- Psalms 104:2He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,
- Isaiah 40:2“Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”
- Isaiah 53:8He was led away after an unjust trial – but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.
- Genesis 32:29Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
- Judges 13:18The Lord’s messenger said to him, “You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it.”
- Psalms 2:7The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father!
- Isaiah 7:14For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.
- Isaiah 9:6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Jeremiah 23:6Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will live in security. This is the name he will go by: ‘The Lord has provided us with justice.’
- Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
- Matthew 11:27All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? - Calmet paraphrases this passage thus: "Who hath descended, etc. In order to show the truth of what he was about to say, he observes: I have not the science of the saints; for how could I have acquired it? Who is he who could attain to that? Who has ascended to heaven to learn that science, and who has descended in order to publish it? Is the science of salvation one of those things that can be apprehended…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Man is to be humbled to the dust by the thought of the glory of God as seen in the visible creation. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? - The thought is obviously that of the all-embracing Providence of God, taking in at once the greatest and the least, the highest and the lowest. The mysteries of the winds and of the waters baffle men‘s researches. What is his son‘s name - The primary thought is that man knows so little of the divine nature…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Unlike Agur's lack of knowledge and power, God's strength and wisdom are evident (compare Psalm 18:30). This is encouraging to Agur, as he knows God protects everyone who seeks Him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. brutish--stupid, a strong term to denote his lowly self-estimation; or he may speak of such as his natural condition, as contrasted with God's all-seeing comprehensive knowledge and almighty power. The questions of this clause emphatically deny the attributes mentioned to be those of any creature, thus impressively strengthening the implied reference of the former to God (compare De 30:12-14; Is 40:12; Ep 4:8).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:4
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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