Proverbs 30:14
New International Version
those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.

New Living Translation
They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.

English Standard Version
There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.

Berean Standard Bible
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

King James Bible
There 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.

New King James Version
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

New American Standard Bible
There is a kind of person whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the poor from the earth And the needy from among mankind.

NASB 1995
There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

NASB 1977
There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords, And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth, And the needy from among men.

Legacy Standard Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords And its fangs like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

Amplified Bible
There is a generation (class of people) whose teeth are like swords And whose jaw teeth are like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

Christian Standard Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, devouring the oppressed from the land and the needy from among mankind.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, devouring the oppressed from the land and the needy from among mankind.

American Standard Version
There 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.

Contemporary English Version
others are so greedy that they gobble up the poor and homeless.

English Revised Version
There 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A certain kind of person, whose teeth are like swords and whose jaws are [like] knives, devours oppressed people from the earth and people from among humanity.

Good News Translation
There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living.

International Standard Version
Some people have swords for teeth and knives for fangs to devour the afflicted from the earth and the needy from among mankind.

Majority Standard Bible
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

NET Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race.

New Heart English Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

Webster's Bible Translation
There 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.

World English Bible
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A generation—their teeth [are] swords, "" And their jaw-teeth [are] knives, "" To consume the poor from earth, "" And the needy from [among] men.

Young's Literal Translation
A generation -- swords are their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from among men.

Smith's Literal Translation
A generation, its teeth swords, and its biter's teeth, knives, to devour the poor from the land, and the needy from man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
There is a generation which has swords in place of teeth, and which commands their molars to devour the indigent from the earth and the poor from among men.

New American Bible
There are some—their teeth are swords, their teeth are knives, Devouring the needy from the earth, and the poor from the human race.

New Revised Standard Version
there are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mortals.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There is a generation, whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A generation whose swords are its teeth, and daggers its molars, to consume the poor of earth and the afflicted of men.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their great teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Words of Agur
13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances— 14there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men. 15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:…

Cross References
James 4:1-2
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? / You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Micah 3:1-3
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”

Psalm 14:4
Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

Isaiah 3:14-15
The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Amos 8:4
Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,

Habakkuk 2:5
and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Jeremiah 5:26-28
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Romans 3:15-17
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; / ruin and misery lie in their wake, / and the way of peace they have not known.”

Psalm 10:8-10
He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. / He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. / They are crushed and beaten down; the helpless fall prey to his strength.

Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.


Treasury of Scripture

There 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.

whose

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Job 29:17
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

to devour

Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Proverbs 28:3
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Psalm 10:8,9
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor…

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Afflicted Consume Destruction Devour Earth Generation Great Jaw Jaws Jaw-Teeth Kind Knives Need Needy Poor Strong Swords Teeth
Proverbs 30
1. Agur's confession of his faith
7. The two points of his prayer
10. The meanest are not to be wronged
11. Four wicked generations
15. Four things insatiable
24. four things exceeding wise
29. Four things stately
32. Wrath is to be prevented














There is a generation
This phrase introduces a specific group of people characterized by their behavior and attitudes. In Hebrew, the word for "generation" is "דּוֹר" (dor), which can refer to a period of time or a group of people living at the same time. Historically, this can be seen as a warning against societal trends that deviate from God's commandments. It serves as a timeless reminder that each generation must guard against moral decay and uphold righteousness.

whose teeth are swords
The imagery of "teeth" as "swords" is a powerful metaphor. In Hebrew, "teeth" (שִׁנַּיִם, shinnayim) and "swords" (חֲרָבוֹת, charavot) convey the idea of destructive power. This suggests a generation that uses its words and actions to harm others, much like swords that cut and wound. The metaphor highlights the aggressive and violent nature of their behavior, emphasizing the need for believers to use their words to build up rather than tear down.

and whose jaws are knives
Continuing the metaphor, "jaws" (מַתְלְעוֹת, matle'ot) as "knives" (סַכִּינִים, sakinim) further illustrates the destructive nature of this generation. Knives, like swords, are tools of violence and destruction. This phrase underscores the idea that their speech and actions are not only harmful but also precise and intentional in their cruelty. It serves as a caution to guard one's heart and speech, aligning them with the love and compassion taught by Christ.

devouring the oppressed from the earth
The word "devouring" (לֶאֱכֹל, le'echol) implies a consuming, relentless destruction. The "oppressed" (עֲנִיִּים, aniyim) are those who are vulnerable and marginalized. This phrase paints a picture of a society that preys on the weak, contrary to the Biblical mandate to protect and uplift the downtrodden. It calls believers to be advocates for justice and mercy, reflecting God's heart for the oppressed.

and the needy from among men
The "needy" (אֶבְיוֹנִים, evyonim) are those lacking basic necessities. This phrase highlights the social injustice perpetuated by this generation. Historically, God's people are called to care for the poor and needy, as seen throughout Scripture. This serves as a reminder of the Christian duty to provide for those in need, embodying the love and generosity of Christ.

Verse 14. - A generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives. The fourth evil is insatiable cupidity, which leads to oppression and injurious treatment of the helpless and poor, which makes men as cruel and remorseless in destroying others and despoiling them of their substance, as the very steel which they use in their operations. Similarly, the psalmist speaks of his enemies as men "whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword" (Psalm 57:4; comp. Isaiah 9:12; Jeremiah 5:17). To devour the poor from off the earth; i.e. so as to be no more seen in the world. Amos 8:4, "Hear this, O ye that would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail" (comp. Psalm 14:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
there is a generation
דּ֤וֹר ׀ (dō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling

whose teeth
שִׁנָּיו֮ (šin·nāw)
Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

are swords
חֲרָב֣וֹת (ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

and whose jaws
מְֽתַלְּעֹ֫תָ֥יו (mə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4973: A biter, a tooth

are knives,
וּֽמַאֲכָל֪וֹת (ū·ma·’ă·ḵā·lō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3979: Something to eat with, a knife

devouring
לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 398: To eat

the oppressed
עֲנִיִּ֣ים (‘ă·nî·yîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

from the earth,
מֵאֶ֑רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and the needy
וְ֝אֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים (wə·’eḇ·yō·w·nîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

from [among] men.
מֵאָדָֽם׃ (mê·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 30:14 There is a generation whose teeth (Prov. Pro Pr)
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