Proverbs 30:11 kjv

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

Proverbs 30:11 nkjv

There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.

Proverbs 30:11 niv

"There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;

Proverbs 30:11 esv

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

Proverbs 30:11 nlt

Some people curse their father
and do not thank their mother.

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 11 Meaning

Proverbs 30:11 identifies a specific type of perverse and morally bankrupt "generation" or class of people. These individuals demonstrate profound disrespect by actively cursing their father, signifying open rebellion against authority and divine order. Furthermore, they compound this sin by neglecting to bless their mother, revealing a deep lack of honor, gratitude, and filial piety. This verse exposes a heart utterly devoid of respect for those who brought them into the world and were entrusted with their upbringing and instruction.

Proverbs 30 11 Context

Proverbs 30 records the words of Agur, son of Jakeh, whose discourse is characterized by a series of numerical proverbs and keen observations about human nature and the world, often presented with profound moral and theological implications. Verses 11-14 specifically describe four "generations" or classes of people, highlighting their morally depraved characteristics. This is the first of these four types. In ancient Israelite society, honoring parents was foundational, directly tied to the Fifth Commandment and seen as essential for individual well-being and societal stability. Cursing parents was an act of profound disrespect against the very foundation of the family, community, and divine order, even punishable by death under Mosaic Law. The failure to "bless" their mother further emphasizes a complete lack of reciprocal gratitude and care, a severe transgression of familial piety.

Proverbs 30 11 Word analysis

• There is a generation (דּוֹר - dor):

  • Significance: "Generation" here refers not merely to an age group, but to a distinct kind or class of people characterized by their behavior and moral quality. It signifies a persistent type of individual found across various periods, indicative of a pervasive spiritual issue rather than just a chronological cohort. Agur's use of "generation" often highlights deep-seated societal corruption or particular moral defects.

• that curseth (יְקַלֵּל - y'qalēl, from קָלַל - qalal):

  • Meaning: To make light, to treat as insignificant, to hold in contempt, to revile, to curse. This is an active and open act of defiance. It implies verbally abusing, despising, and publicly disrespecting one's father. Qalal is the opposite of כָּבֵד (kaved), meaning to be heavy or to honor. Thus, "cursing" directly counters the commandment to "honor."
  • Significance: A direct assault on patriarchal authority, societal order, and a direct violation of God's command. This indicates a deeply rebellious heart.

• their father (אָבִיו - ʾāvîw, from אָב - ʾāv):

  • Meaning: Father, progenitor, head of the family.
  • Significance: Represents authority, heritage, and the primary provider/teacher figure. Cursing the father is a fundamental attack on the foundational unit of society and the God-ordained structure of the family. This disregard for earthly authority often mirrors, or leads to, a disregard for God's divine authority.

• and doth not bless (וְאִמּוֹ לֹא יְבָרֵךְ - v'ʾimmô lōʾ y'vārakh, from בָּרַךְ - barakh):

  • Meaning: Lōʾ is "not." Y'vārakh (from bārakh) means to bless, praise, salute, to bestow good upon, to acknowledge with honor. The negation indicates an omission.
  • Significance: This describes a sin of omission that accompanies the sin of commission. They not only actively curse the father but fail to actively bless the mother. The mother often represents the nurturing, instructive, and supportive aspect of parental authority. Not blessing her demonstrates an utter lack of appreciation, gratitude, and loving respect, completing the picture of filial impiety.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "There is a generation that curseth their father": This phrase introduces a profound moral problem: a specific type of person whose characteristic behavior is open and active contempt for paternal authority. This reflects a decay in foundational societal and familial structures, challenging the established order divinely set forth.
• "and doth not bless their mother": This second part completes the picture of depravity. It's not just active malice towards the father, but passive, yet equally damnable, neglect of the mother. The dual condemnation signifies a complete and utter lack of filial piety, striking at both pillars of parental authority and affection. It represents a pervasive lack of honor, gratitude, and acknowledgment for those from whom they received life and nurture.

Proverbs 30 11 Bonus section

The specific choice of qalal (to curse) for the father and lo barakh (not to bless) for the mother offers a subtle yet significant distinction. It might imply that while active cursing and open defiance are primarily directed at the more authoritarian paternal figure, the neglect and failure to acknowledge or affirm fall upon the more nurturing maternal figure. This illustrates a comprehensive abandonment of filial responsibility on both fronts. The phraseology reflects a profound reversal of the expected behavior under God's law. In effect, it highlights the antithesis of the Fifth Commandment ("Honor your father and your mother"). Agur's series of "four generations" (verses 11-14) each illustrate distinct but interconnected forms of societal and spiritual depravity, with this verse laying the groundwork by presenting a core problem of radical disrespect for authority and origins.

Proverbs 30 11 Commentary

Proverbs 30:11 paints a vivid and somber portrait of profound moral decay, encapsulated in the character of a "generation" (or class) defined by utter filial disrespect. This verse is not merely describing unruly children, but a type of person whose heart is so perverse that they actively curse their father – an open act of rebellion and contempt against the one who represents authority, provision, and instruction. Such behavior strikes at the very root of societal order and God's commanded honor. Compounding this malice, they simultaneously refuse to "bless" their mother, indicating a damning sin of omission. "Blessing" entails acknowledging, honoring, and showing gratitude. The absence of this respect towards the mother, often seen as the source of nurture and wisdom, demonstrates a comprehensive rejection of filial duty. This dual condemnation—active malevolence toward the father and passive ingratitude toward the mother—reveals a core spiritual sickness, indicating a rebellious heart that lacks honor, reverence, and thankfulness for any form of established authority, mirroring a lack of fear of the Lord Himself. Such an attitude signals a deep spiritual deadness and invites severe divine consequences.

• Example: Think of a modern scenario where individuals consistently demean and disrespect their parents publicly, whether verbally or through actions, and simultaneously show no appreciation or gratitude for their mother's efforts and sacrifices, acting entitled and ungrateful. This captures the essence of this verse's condemnation.