Proverbs 30:24

24 ¹Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

Proverbs 30:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 30:24

There be four [things which are] little upon the earth
Small in bulk, that have little bodies, are the lesser sort of animals; but they [are] exceeding wise;
show a great deal of art and wisdom in what they do; or "but they are wise, made wise" ^F5 by the instinct of nature, by the direction of Providence, by which they do things that are surprising. Some versions, that have no regard to the points, read the words, "but their are wiser than the wise" ^F6; than even wise men; wise men may learn much from the least of creatures; see ( Job 12:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Mymkxm Mymkx) "sapientia, sapientia imbuta"; Heb. "sapientificata", Piscator, Gejerus.
F6 "Sapientiora sapientibus", so Sept. V. L. Arabic and Syriac versions; "sapientia superant, vel prudentissimos", Tigurine version.

Proverbs 30:24 In-Context

22 a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;

23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

24 Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;

26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs;

Cross References

• 1. [See ver. 15 above]