Proverbs 30:13

13 A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high.

Proverbs 30:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 30:13

[There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and
their eyelids are lifted up.
] Above others, on whom they look with scorn and contempt; as those do who have more riches than others, and boast of them; they despise their poor neighbours, and disdain to look upon them: and such also who have more knowledge and wisdom than others, or at least think so; they are puffed up in their fleshly minds, and say of the illiterate or less knowing, as the proud Pharisees did, "this people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed": and likewise those who fancy themselves more holy and righteous than others; these, in a scornful manner, say, "stand by thyself, I am holier than thou"; and thank God they are not as other men are, as publicans and sinners; see ( Proverbs 19:4 Proverbs 19:7 ) ( John 7:49 ) ( Isaiah 65:4 ) ( Luke 18:11 Luke 18:12 ) . Hence Pliny ^F9 says, that in the eyebrows there is a part of the mind; those especially show haughtiness; that pride has a receptacle elsewhere, but here it has its seat; it is bred in the heart, but here it comes and here it hangs: wherefore Juvenal ^F11 calls pride and haughtiness, "grande supercilium"; and proud haughty persons are said to be supercilious.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Nat. Hist. 1. 11. c. 37.
F11 Satyr. 6. v. 168.

Proverbs 30:13 In-Context

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

13 A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high.

14 A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men.

15 The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough.