King James Version

What Does Proverbs 30:4 Mean?

Proverbs 30:4 in the King James Version says “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a ... — study this verse from Proverbs chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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?

Proverbs 30:4 · KJV


Context

2

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

3

I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. have: Heb. know

4

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?

5

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

6

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


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Agur asks: Who has ascended to heaven or descended? Who gathered wind or bound waters? Who established earth's ends? 'What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' These rhetorical questions point to God's transcendent power and anticipate Christ ('his son'). Only God has cosmic authority. Reformed theology sees this as proto-Trinitarian—Father and Son governing creation. These questions humble human pretension while pointing to divine power and the coming Messiah.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern creation myths attributed cosmic powers to various gods. Agur's questions assert monotheism—only Yahweh and His Son possess creative and sustaining power over creation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do these questions about cosmic power point you to worship God's transcendence?
  2. How do you see anticipation of Christ as God's Son in this Old Testament text?
  3. What does it mean that the Creator descended to earth in Jesus Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
מִ֤י1 of 24
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

עָלָֽה2 of 24

Who hath ascended up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

שָׁמַ֨יִם׀3 of 24

into heaven

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וַיֵּרַ֡ד4 of 24

or descended

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

מִ֤י5 of 24
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

אָֽסַף6 of 24

who hath gathered

H622

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

ר֨וּחַ׀7 of 24

the wind

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

בְּחָפְנָ֡יו8 of 24

in his fists

H2651

a fist (only in the dual)

מִ֤י9 of 24
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

צָֽרַר10 of 24

who hath bound

H6887

to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive

מַ֨יִם׀11 of 24

the waters

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

בַּשִּׂמְלָ֗ה12 of 24

in a garment

H8071

a dress, especially a mantle

מִ֭י13 of 24
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

הֵקִ֣ים14 of 24

who hath established

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

כָּל15 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אַפְסֵי16 of 24

all the ends

H657

cessation, i.e., an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or f

אָ֑רֶץ17 of 24

of the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מַה18 of 24
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

שֶּׁם19 of 24

name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

וּמַֽה20 of 24
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

שֶּׁם21 of 24

name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

בְּ֝נ֗וֹ22 of 24

and what is his son's

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

כִּ֣י23 of 24
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

תֵדָֽע׃24 of 24

if thou canst tell

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Proverbs. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Proverbs 30:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Proverbs 30:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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