Bible Strands
Proverbs 30:1
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Agur son of Jakeh addresses Ithiel, delivering an oracle at the opening of his collection. The speaker introduces his speech with a declaration of personal exhaustion before any instruction follows.
The words — הַמַּשָּׂא (ha.Ma.Sa) translates literally as "burden" or "oracle," marking the following text as a weighty divine utterance. דִּבְרֵי (div.Rei) means "words of," establishing the subsequent lines as Agur's recorded speech.
The thread — This introductory formula matches Proverbs 31:1, which similarly attributes a collection to a named speaker. The theme of a confirmed prophetic utterance resurfaces in 2 Peter 1:19.
Why it lands — The text presents Agur's admission of weariness and immediate confession of ignorance before offering wisdom. Readers must acknowledge their own cognitive limits before receiving instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Cross-references
- Proverbs 31:1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
- 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.