Proverbs 30:24

24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually 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 who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,

23 a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:

25 Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.

26 Hyraxes —they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.