Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 30:2–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:18Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

  2. Psalms 73:22Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

  3. Proverbs 5:12Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    12And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

  4. 1 Corinthians 8:2Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

  5. 2 Peter 2:12–16Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

    13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

    14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

    15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

    16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

From verse 3

  1. Ephesians 3:18–19Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

    19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

  2. Proverbs 9:10Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

  3. Revelation 3:7Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

  4. Romans 11:33Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

  5. Amos 7:14–15Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    14¶ Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

    15And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

From verse 4

  1. John 3:13Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

  2. Ephesians 4:8–10Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

    9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

    10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

  3. Job 26:8Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

  4. Deuteronomy 30:12Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

  5. Isaiah 7:14Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 30:2

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 30:3

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

holy

↗

Sense 1: Morally pure, righteous, undefiled, and separate from evil; supremely so of God. Sense 2: Hallowed, consecrated, set apart, devoted, or belonging to God or sacred use; distinguished from what is common, profane, or unclean.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 30:4

COMBINED MEANING

ascended

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of ascend, meaning to go or rise upward to a higher place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heaven

↗

Sense 1: The firmament or expanse above the earth, including the sky and the region of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, and flying creatures. Sense 2: The realm above spoken of as God's throne and dwelling place, and as the place of angels, heavenly beings, and the righteous. Sense 3: By metonymy, God, heavenly authority or source, or those who dwell there.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

descended

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of descend, meaning to go downward; go down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gathered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of gather, meaning to collect, bring together, or assemble.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

wind

↗

Sense 1: Air in motion; a current of air. Sense 2: Breath or a movement of air from breathing. Sense 3: By figure, something empty, unstable, or passing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bound

↗

1. Tied, fastened, wrapped, bandaged, joined, confined, or restrained, literally or figuratively. 2. Placed under a vow, law, duty, obligation, or determined course. 3. Directed or travelling toward a stated place. 4. A limit or boundary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

garment

↗

1. An article of clothing or covering worn or placed about the body. 2. Figuratively, something that covers or surrounds as clothing does.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

established

↗

Set firmly; founded, made stable, ordained, enacted, ratified, or confirmed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ends

↗

Sense 1: Extremities, boundaries, conclusions, purposes, or results. Sense 2: Ceases or brings to a close.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

tell

↗

1. To speak, relate, declare, report, inform, explain, reveal, recount, or make known. 2. To know, discern, or determine, especially in 'cannot tell' or 'who can tell.' 3. To count, number, or enumerate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Proverbs 30:1–33

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

Read all 33 verses in Proverbs 30:1–33

30:1THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

30:2Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

Selected passage

30:3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

Selected passage

30:4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Selected passage

30:5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

30:6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

30:7Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

30:8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

30:9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

30:10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

30:11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

30:12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

30:13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

30:14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

30:15The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

30:16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

30:18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

30:19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

30:20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

30:21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

30:22For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

30:23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

30:24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

30:25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

30:26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

30:27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

30:28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

30:29There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30:30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

30:31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

30:32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

30:33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.