21 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
Focused Passage
Proverbs 30:21-23
The Sayings of Agur: Humility, the Word of God, Contentment, Wonder, and the Limits of Human Wisdom
The chapter moves from Agur's confession of human limitation, to confidence in God's flawless word, to prayer for truth and contentment, to warnings about arrogance, greed, and dishonor, to wonder at creation and the mystery of hidden ways, to social disorder, to wisdom learned from small creatures, and finally to restraint against self-exaltation and anger.
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 21
Cross-references
Original words
Under תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition three things שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ H7969 Number - feminine singular the earth אֶ֑רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular trembles רָ֣גְזָה H7264 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular under וְתַ֥חַת H8478 Conjunctive waw | Preposition four אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע H702 Number - feminine singular it cannot לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . תוּכַ֥ל H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular bear up שְׂאֵֽת׃ H5375 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 22
Cross-references
Original words
- תַּֽחַת־ H8478 Preposition a servant עֶ֭בֶד H5650 Noun - masculine singular who כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction becomes king יִמְל֑וֹךְ H4427 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a fool וְ֝נָבָ֗ל H5036 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular who כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction is filled יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ H7646 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with food לָֽחֶם׃ H3899 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 23
Cross-references
Original words
- תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition an unloved woman שְׂ֭נוּאָה H8130 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular who כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction marries תִבָּעֵ֑ל H1166 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular and a maidservant וְ֝שִׁפְחָ֗ה H8198 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular who כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction supplants תִירַ֥שׁ H3423 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular her mistress גְּבִרְתָּֽהּ׃פ H1404 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular