Proverbs 30:24

Proverbs 30:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
• New International Version (NIV)“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
• New King James Version (NKJV)There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

Context of Proverbs 30:24

22a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers, 23a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress. There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: 25Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. 26Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.

Proverbs 30:24 word by word

אַרְבָּ֣עָה הֵ֭ם קְטַנֵּי־אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים מְחֻכָּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• There be fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• littleקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• exceedingחָכַםchâkam · be wiseH2449
• wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:24

• Job 12:7“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

Commentaries on Proverbs 30:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24There be four things - Of which it is said, they are very little but very wise. 1. The ants. 2. The rabbits. 3. The locusts. 4. The spider. The ants show their wisdom by preparing their meat in the summer, seeking for it and storing it when it may be had; not for winter consumption, for they sleep all that time; but for autumn and spring. See the note on Proverbs 6:6; (note). The ants are a people; they have their houses, towns, cities, public roads, etc…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Exceeding wise - Some prefer the reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate: “wiser than the wise.” The thought, in either case, turns upon the marvels of instinct, which, in their own province, transcend the more elaborate results of human wisdom.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-28Verses 24-28 Four things that are little, are yet to be admired. There are those who are poor in the world, and of small account, yet wise for their souls and another world.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-28Here is another example of number parallelism: small, seemingly insignificant animals can be surprisingly powerful and resourceful.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3124-31. These verses provide two classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world, which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pr 30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success of these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity and activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pr 30:30, 31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 30:24

• Riddle

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Coney
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Four
• Massa
• Number
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Wisdom

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