Proverbs 30:3
in Proverbs 30I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
KJV
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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This verse in Proverbs 30
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSolomon in Proverbs says: "I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me. I have not learned wisdom, and I have not known the wisdom of the Saints." Christ was foolish in outward appearance, when he departed from …
This site's exposition
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh
on Proverbs 30:1-3
"These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh" names an otherwise unknown sage. Jewish tradition identifies Agur with Solomon under another name, a reading the text never states. Agur opens by confessing, "Surely I am the most ignorant of men," without learned wisdom or "knowledge of the Holy One."
This site's exposition
I have not learned wisdom
Albert Barnes says Agur looked within and found all his learning as nothing. He had heard of God only by the hearing of the ear, like Job. He points the reader to 9:10.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Raise your eyes to heaven, therefore, like him who said, "To you who lives in heaven, I lift my eyes." Look upon the sun of righteousness and, as you are directed by the commandments of the Lord, which resemble the most radiant of stars, have vigilant eyes. Do not allow the eyes [of the soul] to slumber or the eyelids to rest, that the commandments might lead you perpetually. "For, your law is a lamp to my feet," he says, "and a light to my path."
Now, since it is not mere human wisdom that is claimed for himself by Solomon, who says, "God hath taught me wisdom," and who, where he says "all my words are spoken from God," refers to God all that is spoken by himself, it might be well in this part of the Proverbs to trace out the prophecy that is mingled with his wisdom.
Indeed, that Will for whom everything is easy constrains these abundant fountains of paradise, confining them with land, like water channels; he summoned them to issue forth in our direction, just as he bound up the waters in the bosom of his clouds, ready to …
The Medieval Church2 voices
I have not learned wisdom, etc. Solomon did not learn wisdom from man, but received it from God who freely offers, so that he might know the knowledge of the saints. But also the Apostle who says, We are fools for Christ's sake, he again …
Do you believe that God provides for His creatures, and is able to do all things? Let suitable labor, therefore, follow on your faith, and then He will hear you. Think not to grasp the winds in your fist, that is, faith without works.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I can get no insight into them, nor make any judgment of them, further than God is pleased to make them known to me." The natural man, the natural powers, perceive not, nay, they receive not, the things of the Spirit of God. Some suppose Agur to be asked, as Apollo's oracle was of old, Who was the wisest man?
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
I neither learned wisdom,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
He found, when he looked within, that all his learning was as nothing. He had heard of God only “by the hearing of the ear” Job 42:5, and now he discovered how little that availed. The holy - The Holy One. Compare Pro 9:10.
I neither learned wisdom - I have never been a scholar in any of those schools of the wise men, nor have the knowledge of the holy, קדשים kedoshim, of the saints or holy persons. The Septuagint give this a different turn: yeov dedidace me sofian, kai gnwsin agiwn egnwka; “God hath taught me wisdom, and the knowledge of the saints I have known.” This may refer to the patriarchs, prophets, or holy men, that lived before the days of Solomon. That is, the translators might have had these in view.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| לָמַ֥דְתִּי | lamadti | I have learned | H3925 → | |
| חָכְמָ֑ה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| וְדַ֖עַת | vedaat | and knowledge of | H1847 → | 92 times |
| קְדֹשִׁ֣ים | kedoshim | [the] holy [one<s>] | H6918 → | |
| אֵדָֽע׃ | ʾeda' | I know | H3045 → | 945 times |
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
לָמַ֥דְתִּיI have learned
lamadtiH3925 →
חָכְמָ֑הwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
וְדַ֖עַתand knowledge of
vedaatH1847 →92 times
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים[the] holy [one<s>]
kedoshimH6918 →
אֵדָֽע׃I know
ʾeda'H3045 →945 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
it leads to
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Proverbs 2:5
then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
- Psalms 111:10
Through
Revelation 3:7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut,…
it leads to
- Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
- Isaiah 22:22
Through
Romans 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
it leads to
- Job 11:7–9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 5:9
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
- Job 11:7–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, HOMILY ON THE BEGINNING OF PROVERBS 17; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Ephrem the Syrian, HYMNS ON PARADISE 9; Gregory of Nyssa, AGAINST EUNOMIUS 3:2; Isaac of Nineveh, ASCETICAL HOMILIES 7; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.