Pro 30:33 | KingComments | STEP | Agur does not end with the dignity suggested in the previous verses. That would have been a nice ending. Instead, he ends with a warning that is a final call to humility ( ). The examples in are about leaders. A fool may take the wrong lesson from them and assume to be a leader ( ). Therefore, the warning sounds against pride in the heart (“exalting”) and against evil thoughts (“plotted”). Let him in whom this is found quickly realize that this is folly, and let him not express his prideful thoughts ( ). Therefore, the “hand on your mouth” (cf. ). With Job, it is the hand on the mouth toward God. With Agur, it is the hand on the mouth in mutual intercourse. It is worse to think bad; it is even worse to also speak out that bad. When the latter happens, one gives in to the bad thought and others are affected by it. Exalting oneself and plotting something is not yet the act. Yet Agur says that a person “has been foolish” when pride and bad thoughts are present. Indeed, thoughts are equated with deeds. The Lord Jesus confirms that: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” ( ). Therefore, not only wrong deeds must be judged and confessed, but also evil motives and thoughts. In , three comparisons present what the result is if the hand is not put on the mouth. We see this from the word “for” with which the verse begins. If he continues to carry out his prideful thoughts, he will only cause discord. In his presumed leadership, he puts pressure on others. Putting pressure on something has a consequence. When pressure is put on milk, when it is stirred vigorously, butter is produced. The original healthy drink is no longer drinkable. If pressure is applied to the nose, if someone gets a blow to the nose, blood comes out of the nose. The original function of the nose, to take in odors, is disabled. On the contrary, blood loss takes place. The last example of pressure is what it is actually about. A person can be so pressured that he becomes angry and then strife ensues. The examples make the point of this concluding advice clear. Agur urges us to strive for peace and harmony through an attitude of humility and justice. He ends his proverbs with the same thought he began with.

‏ Proverbs 30:33

Pressing Produces Something

Agur does not end with the dignity suggested in the previous verses. That would have been a nice ending. Instead, he ends with a warning that is a final call to humility (Pro 30:32-33). The examples in Pro 30:30-31 are about leaders. A fool may take the wrong lesson from them and assume to be a leader (Pro 30:32). Therefore, the warning sounds against pride in the heart (“exalting”) and against evil thoughts (“plotted”).

Let him in whom this is found quickly realize that this is folly, and let him not express his prideful thoughts (Pro 30:32). Therefore, the “hand on your mouth” (cf. Job 40:4-5). With Job, it is the hand on the mouth toward God. With Agur, it is the hand on the mouth in mutual intercourse. It is worse to think bad; it is even worse to also speak out that bad. When the latter happens, one gives in to the bad thought and others are affected by it.

Exalting oneself and plotting something is not yet the act. Yet Agur says that a person “has been foolish” when pride and bad thoughts are present. Indeed, thoughts are equated with deeds. The Lord Jesus confirms that: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:28). Therefore, not only wrong deeds must be judged and confessed, but also evil motives and thoughts.

In Pro 30:33, three comparisons present what the result is if the hand is not put on the mouth. We see this from the word “for” with which the verse begins. If he continues to carry out his prideful thoughts, he will only cause discord. In his presumed leadership, he puts pressure on others. Putting pressure on something has a consequence.

When pressure is put on milk, when it is stirred vigorously, butter is produced. The original healthy drink is no longer drinkable. If pressure is applied to the nose, if someone gets a blow to the nose, blood comes out of the nose. The original function of the nose, to take in odors, is disabled. On the contrary, blood loss takes place. The last example of pressure is what it is actually about. A person can be so pressured that he becomes angry and then strife ensues.

The examples make the point of this concluding advice clear. Agur urges us to strive for peace and harmony through an attitude of humility and justice. He ends his proverbs with the same thought he began with.