Proverbs 30:17 kjv

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Proverbs 30:17 nkjv

The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

Proverbs 30:17 niv

"The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 30:17 esv

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 30:17 nlt

The eye that mocks a father
and despises a mother's instructions
will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
and eaten by vultures.

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 17 Meaning

Proverbs 30:17 vividly illustrates the grave spiritual and natural consequences for those who profoundly disrespect their parents. It paints a picture of ultimate degradation and judgment for a son or daughter who, with scornful gaze and contemptuous refusal, rejects the authority and instruction of their father and mother. The striking imagery of scavenging birds signifies a final, public humiliation and the loss of dignity and future, representing divine judgment that leaves the ungodly offspring as an outcast and an object of scorn, bereft of sight and insight. This verse underscores the foundational importance of filial piety within God's moral order.

Proverbs 30 17 Context

Proverbs 30:17 is part of the collection of "the words of Agur, son of Jakeh, of Massa" (Proverbs 30:1). This chapter stands distinct from the Solomonic proverbs, introducing new authors and a unique style often characterized by numerical sayings, riddles, and vivid, often natural, imagery. Agur's words reflect observations on human nature and divine wisdom, frequently highlighting the dangers of pride, disrespect, and societal ill-deeds, drawing strong contrasts between righteousness and wickedness. The verse, situated within a broader collection of insights into justice and the consequences of sin, reflects the deeply ingrained value of family authority and intergenerational respect in ancient Israelite society, established by divine law. Disobedience to parents was not merely a family matter but an act against the societal and theological foundations laid by God Himself, deserving of severe consequences that demonstrate the divine order's sanctity.

Proverbs 30 17 Word analysis

• The eye: עַיִן (`ayin`) - Beyond merely the organ of sight, the "eye" in biblical context often represents a person's entire disposition, attitude, or inner being. To mock with the eye suggests an active, deliberate disdain, a scornful gaze that conveys deep-seated disrespect and contempt. It's an expression of one's inner malice or irreverence.
• that mocks: לֹעֶגֶת (`lo’eget`) - From the root לָעַג (`la'ag`), meaning "to scorn," "to scoff," "to deride." This verb often signifies arrogant ridicule and is frequently used in the Bible for mocking God, His prophets, or His righteous ones. It denotes a hostile, contemptuous attitude.
• at his father: אָבִיו (`'aviv`) - Literally "his father." In a patriarchal society, the father held significant authority as head of the household, patriarch, and often the primary educator and moral guide. Mocking him signified a rejection of established authority and fundamental social order.
• and despises: וּבוּז (`uvuz`) - From the root בּוּז (`buz`), meaning "to despise," "to scorn," "to hold in contempt." This signifies active, utter disregard, a contemptuous rejection of something or someone's value. It's more than just passive non-compliance; it's an arrogant dismissal.
• to obey his mother: לִיקְּהַת אִמּוֹ (`liqchat 'immo`) - Literally "the obedience/instruction of his mother." `לקח` (`leqach`) can refer to "teaching," "instruction," "doctrine," or "wisdom received." This emphasizes the mother's crucial role in early moral and spiritual training. Despising her instruction is a rejection of foundational wisdom and nurturing guidance.
• the ravens: עֹרְבֵי (`'orevey`) - From the word עֹרֵב (`'orev`), ravens. These are predatory, carrion-eating birds, often seen as unclean animals under Mosaic law. They symbolize decay, desolation, and scavenging judgment.
• of the valley: נָחַל (`nachal`) - Refers to a wadi or dry riverbed, often desolate and associated with disposal of waste or execution sites. Being left in the valley for scavengers indicates public humiliation, a desecrated burial, and utter dishonor.
• shall pick it out: יִקְּרוּהָ (`yiqqeruhuha`) - From the root נָקַר (`naqar`), meaning "to scoop out," "to dig out," "to bore through," "to put out (an eye)." The action is brutal and focused, directly targeting the offending "eye."
• and the young eagles: וּבְנֵי נֶשֶׁר (`uvene nesher`) - Literally "and sons of eagle," meaning young eagles or vultures. While eagles can symbolize majesty, here in conjunction with ravens, they are more likely functioning as scavengers, often circling above carrion.
• shall eat it: יֹאכְלֻהָ (`yochluhah`) - Meaning "they shall eat it." This final act emphasizes consumption, indicating the utter destruction and consumption of the defiled body, leaving nothing for proper burial or remembrance. It represents total despoliation and oblivion.

• The eye that mocks... and despises to obey: This pairing emphasizes a dual form of irreverence: visible disdain (the mocking eye) and active rejection of instruction (despising obedience). The eye is often seen as the gateway of the soul; a mocking eye signifies a corrupted internal disposition that extends to the will's rejection of parental guidance.
• The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it: This serves as a strong retributive consequence, mirroring the sin. The eye, which first initiated the scorn, is targeted for destruction. Being left unburied and devoured by scavengers was considered a profound curse and public disgrace in ancient cultures, worse than death itself, signifying abandonment by God and man. It indicates an untimely, ignoble, and desecrated end, losing honor even in death. This also speaks to a loss of physical and spiritual "sight" – the ability to discern truth and walk in wisdom.

Proverbs 30 17 Bonus section

• Apophatic Wisdom: Agur’s sayings in Proverbs 30 sometimes delve into areas beyond human comprehension (e.g., v. 18-19). This verse, however, presents a clear moral lesson with severe, direct consequences for a tangible sin.
• Theocratic Society: In ancient Israel, the family was the fundamental unit of society and faith. To undermine parental authority was to undermine God's appointed order, hence the extreme imagery for retribution. Such disobedience was seen not just as a domestic issue but as rebellion against the divine framework.
• Symbolism of Blindness: The loss of the eye signifies more than physical blindness; it represents a deeper spiritual blindness, a person's inability to see truth or understand the wisdom that they once scorned, ultimately leading to destruction.
• Ultimate Dishonor: For an ancient Near Eastern person, being left unburied and consumed by scavengers was the ultimate disgrace, depriving them of proper rest in the afterlife and erasing their memory. It implied that their very existence was offensive, leaving no trace but their ignoble end.

Proverbs 30 17 Commentary

Proverbs 30:17 delivers a profound statement on filial duty through terrifying imagery. It asserts that deeply ingrained disrespect for one's parents—manifested through mocking glances and outright rejection of their instruction—invites a dreadful fate. This fate, depicted as the public despoilment of the body by scavenger birds, symbolizes divine judgment that leaves the irreverent individual stripped of honor, dignity, and any lasting legacy. It's a hyperbole that underscores the gravity of violating foundational covenant principles related to family and authority. The "picking out" of the eye, the organ of the initial sin of scorn, suggests a precise and just retribution, while consumption by "unclean" birds implies spiritual and social defilement. The passage serves as a powerful warning against pride and self-will that would undermine the God-ordained order of family, linking contempt for parents with spiritual blindness and utter abandonment.