Proverbs 30:14

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, 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

12those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; 13those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; 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. 15“The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: 16the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

Proverbs 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 12:18The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Job 29:17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.
• Psalms 3:7Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
• Psalms 52:2You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
• Psalms 57:4I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• Psalms 58:6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
• Daniel 7:5“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
• Revelation 9:8Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.
• Proverbs 22:16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
• Proverbs 28:3A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
• Psalms 10:8He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
• Psalms 12:5“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
• Psalms 14:4Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
• Isaiah 32:7Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
• Amos 2:7They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

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

• Malice
• Oppression
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Knife
• Jaw; Jawbone; Jaw Teeth
• Massa
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Zoology

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