A man named agur likely wrote chapter 30 while the last chapter was penned by king lemuel. Essentially the book of proverbs is a collection of comparisons based on observation and reflection that seeks to instruct people in right behavior andrew e. Surely i am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. For the modern village in israel, see agur, israel. We dont know anything about this man, where he lived or even when he lived, why he wrote or why his writings were preserved in the bestselling book of all time he declares his words to ithiel and ucal, and in christian circles hes probably most celebrated for asking the question, what is gods name or his. Only about 800 of solomons proverbs are included in this book of proverbs. And scholars speculate that it may have been a pseudonym under which solomon wrote, because we do not know anything about agur other than what we can surmise from the contents of proverbs 30. The initial text of the chapter runs as follows jps translation, and bears great similarity to isaiah 40. May 30, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of proverbs, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. A verse by verse study guide for the book of proverbs prepared by pastor david braden. Evidence arguing against agur being solomon, besides the lack of explicit mention of his name as in the other sections of the book, is the prayer of proverbs 30.
The composition of proverbs remains one of the most difficult questions about the book. We are told in the first chapter of proverbs that its sayings were. Mar 18, 2019 like the rest of the bible, proverbs points to gods plan of salvation, but perhaps more subtly. As they put this wisdom to use, they would have demonstrated qualities of jesus christ toward each other as well as setting an example for the gentiles around them. Book of proverbs project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Proverbs 30 nlv the wisdom of agur the words of agur bible. The author who wrote the most for it is king solomon, who composed his sayings during his reign from 970 to 930 b. Proverbs 30 commentary james burton coffman commentaries.
This request makes little sense if it were coming from solomon. Its strong association with solomon means most of its contents were completed prior to his death in 931 bc. Book of proverbs overview insight for living ministries. I have not learned wisdom, nor have i attained to the knowledge of the holy one. The words of king lemuel, taught him by his mother pro 31.
Proverbs 3031 the words of agur and king lemuel conclude the book. Our courts have banned prayer from the public schools, public functions and public display. Sayings of agur the sayings of agur son of jakehan inspired utterance. The old synagogue tradition which, on the ground of the general title proverbs 1. There is also the possibility that jeremiah and zechariah were drawing on proverbs. It could also mean he who understood the will of the lord. His last chapter oracle stresses humility before god and the importance of a life of moderation.
We dont know anything about this man, where he lived or even when he lived, why he wrote or why his writings were preserved in the bestselling book of all time. The final chapter is ascribed to lemuel king of masa. Proverbs was almost excluded from the bible because of its contradictions the result of the book s origins as not just an anthology but an anthology of anthologies. The book of proverbs was numbered among the hagiographa writings held by the ancient hebrews as less sacred and authoritative than either the law or the prophets, and, in consequence, copyists felt naturally less bound to transcribe its text with scrupulous accuracy. Agur was a compiler not the actual sacred author of part of the collection of proverbs in the book of proverbs, which forms part of the old. His contribution to this book is mainly in chapter 30 of the book. Two chapters, 30 and 31 were written by agur and lemuel. The book of proverbs gives wisdom for living gods way.
The last two chapters these final two chapters are remarkably different from the rest of the book. Jesus used proverbs at times to teach his disciples. The book of proverbs is an anthology of short wisdom sayings and exhortations to seek wisdom. Proverbs 30 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The book of proverbs is a book of instructions on how to live a godly life here on earth and how to be assured of reward in the life to come. Appropriately situated among the words of wisdom in the book of proverbs, the prayer of agur is that of a man who comprehended the perils of deception and lies. This summary of the book of proverbs provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of proverbs. The hebrew term for proverb means a comparison, and it came to be used for any sage or moralistic pronouncement cf. Other parts of proverbs include a collection of sayings from wise people that solomon gathered together and organized, and writings of agur the son of jakeh, king lemuel, and an unknown author. Agur was the son of jakeh and writer of chapter 30 of the book of proverbs. Study the bible online using commentary on proverbs 30 and more. This article is about the biblical character agur ben jakeh.
Agur was a compiler not the actual sacred author of part of the collection of proverbs in the book of proverbs, which forms part of the old testament. Solomon reigned around 970 to 931 bc and hezekiah in whose time many ancient things came to honour around 716 to 687 bc. His name could suggest that he is free from earthly transgressions. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the holy one. Evidence arguing against agur being solomon, besides the lack of explicit mention of his name as in the other sections of the book, is the prayer of proverbs.
The guiding principles of the book are to trust in the lord with all your heart proverbs 3. Jul 16, 2019 agur was the son of jakeh and writer of chapter 30 of the book of proverbs. The book of proverbs chapter 30 the wisdom of agur the words of agur the son of jakeh, his utterance. King hezekiahs men collected some of solomons proverbs only 200 years later compare proverbs 25. The wisdom of agur in proverbs 30 is filled with observations on life and the natural world. Agur is one inviting us to look again at our world with the eye of a man of faith who is an artist and an observer of character.
Therefore, 2,300 of his proverbs are not contained in the book of proverbs. In regard to who wrote proverbs, it is fairly certain that king solomon wrote chapters 1 to 29. The book of proverbs provides profound insights and exceptional wisdom on how to live a happy and peaceful life, by honoring and respecting god as allgood and allpowerful. Her books include the onthego devotional series and. Proverbs 31 where the name of agur and lemuel appear. Like the rest of the bible, proverbs points to gods plan of salvation, but perhaps more subtly. However, just because there may have been later additions to the book of proverbs doesnt mean the entire book is dated later than solomon. Clearly the book stayed in the southern kingdom of judah, as hezekiahs men compiled more of solomons proverbs in proverbs 2529. Agur admonishes the reader that every word of god is pure proverbs 30.
Proverbs 30 niv bible the sayings of agur son of jakehan. For the fifteenth century author of sefer haagur, see jacob ben judah landau. But the relationship of proverbs to christ is much deeper than it appears. Nothing is known of him beyond what is there recorded. The greater part of proverbs teaches us how to gain wisdom for faith and life through the revelations god has given us.
Proverbs overview and outline reasons for hope jesus. When translated into greek and latin, the title took on different forms. Solomon highly likely penned chapters 1 to 29 of proverbs. The book of proverbs invites people to live with wisdom and in the fear. Agur definition and meaning bible dictionary bible study tools.
He also provides some somewhat cryptic sayings about things that confound or amaze him. On the other hand, some books on prayer have made the nations bestseller lists. Proverbs 2529 these proverbs speak about righteous leadership, the duty of the people to help the poor, and the value of wisdom in daily life. Outline of the book of proverbs wisdom and folly contrasted 1 9 proverbs of solomon 1024 written and set in order by himself proverbs of solomon 2529 set in order by men of hezekiah oracle of agur 30 proverbs of lemuels mother 31 three losers three classes of people who desperately need wisdom prov 1. The book also contains proverbs and wisdom from other sources a. The words of agur who this agur was no one has ever yet been able to show. The first third of proverbs is an extended lecture spoken by the personified voice of wisdom. The wisdom of agur the words of agur the son of jakeh, his utterance. His sayings are constructed on a rather artificial plan. Here agur asks that god give him neither poverty nor riches because of the bad result each would lead to.
Solomon has therefore more likely collected the words of these men than just added them later. Also solomon has probably not compiled all proverbs but taken over already known proverbs by the. The reader is told, for example, both to not answer a fool according to his folly, according to 26. This chapter was penned by one that bears the name of agur ben jakeh. This book showed the israelites the right way to live, gods way. There is no biblical information about agur or lemuel.
Although the book begins with a title ascribing the proverbs to solomon, it is clear from later chapters that he was not the only author of the. Proverbs 30 sayings of agur the sayings of agur bible. Agur is one inviting us to look again at our world with the eye of a man. Proverbs 30 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The book of proverbs is divided into four main sections, with three additional sections, or appendices, included at the end. Yet there is much we can learn about this obscure character from this chapter.
The original hebrew title of the book of proverbs is mishle shlomoh proverbs of solomon. Lydia brownback mar, westminster theological seminary is an author and a speaker at womens conferences around the world. Only around a thousand of solomons proverbs are collected in the book of proverbs and were maintained by divine inspiration and preservation. Jul 29, 2017 the hebrew term for proverb means a comparison, and it came to be used for any sage or moralistic pronouncement cf. The only agur in the bible is the mysterious author of proverbs 30, son of jakeh. Proverbs 30 nkjv the wisdom of agur the words of agur. The book of proverbs is a book of the hebrew bible the christian old testament, included in the collected works known as the writings or ketuvim. The words of agur the son of jakeh to ithiel and ucal pro 30. Why are the writings of agur son of jakeh included in the book of proverbs. Watch our overview video on the book of proverbs, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.