Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 30:4
4Who has gone up into heaven, and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palm of His hand? Who has wrapped 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—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
2“Surely I am more stupid than any man and do not have a man’s understanding. 3I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has gone up into heaven, and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palm of His hand? Who has wrapped 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—if you know?” 5Every word of God is purified. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6Do not add to His words, or else He will rebuke You and prove you 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 the heavens, that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us to the heavens and get it for us, and have us hear it so we may do it?’
- John 3:13No one has gone up into heaven except the One who came down from heaven—the Son of Man.
- Romans 10:6But the righteousness based on faith speaks in this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Messiah down),
- Ephesians 4:9Now what does “He went up” mean, except that He first went down to the lower regions of the earth?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Psalms 104:2wrapping Yourself in light as a robe, stretching out heaven like a curtain,
- Isaiah 40:2Speak kindly to the heart of Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed. For she has received from Adonai’s hand double for all her sins.
- Isaiah 53:8Because of oppression and judgment He was taken away. As for His generation, who considered? For He was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people— the stroke was theirs
- Genesis 32:29Then He said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but rather Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have overcome.”
- Judges 13:18But the angel of Adonai said to him, “Why do you ask for my name? It is wonderful.”
- Psalms 2:7I will declare the decree of Adonai. He said to me: “You are My Son— today I have become Your Father.
- Isaiah 7:14Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel.
- Isaiah 9:6Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end— on the throne of David and over His kingdom— to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.
- Jeremiah 23:6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell in safely; and this is His Name by which He will be called: Adonai our righteousness.
- Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
- Matthew 11:27“All 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 chooses 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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