Bible Strands
Proverbs 30:15
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Agur speaks to the reader while cataloging natural and moral observations. He introduces this verse immediately after describing a predatory generation that uses its teeth like swords to devour the oppressed and needy.
The words — The text names the leech (לַעֲלוּקָ֨ה, la'aluqah) and its two daughters, Give and Give (הַ֤ב, hav). These terms literally describe an organism and its offspring as relentless takers.
The thread — This three-and-four pattern continues in Proverbs 30:16 with Sheol, the barren womb, unsatisfied land, and fire, and in Proverbs 30:21 where the earth trembles under three things and cannot bear up under four.
Why it lands — The verse states that greed operates like a biological imperative, taking without pause. It asks the reader to recognize insatiability as a baseline condition that demands deliberate restraint.
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 horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
Cross-references
- Proverbs 30:21 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
- Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Proverbs 30:29 There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
- Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Isaiah 56:11 Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
- Amos 1:11 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.
- John 8:39 “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
- John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
- 2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- 2 Peter 2:13 The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.