Proverbs 30:24

24 Four [things] be the least things of [the] earth, and those be wiser than wise men;

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 by a servant, when he reigneth; by a fool, when he is filled with meat (by a fool, when he is filled full with food);

23 by an hateful woman, when she is taken in matrimony; and by an handmaid, when she is heir of her lady (and by a servantess, when she is her lady's heir).

24 Four [things] be the least things of [the] earth, and those be wiser than wise men;

25 ants, a feeble people, that make ready meat in harvest to themselves; (ants, a weak, or a lowly, people, that store-up food for themselves at harvest time;)

26 a hare, a people unmighty, that setteth his bed in a stone; (rock badgers, also an unmighty people, who make their beds among the rocks;)