Proverbs 30:4 kjv

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

Proverbs 30:4 nkjv

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, If you know?

Proverbs 30:4 niv

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!

Proverbs 30:4 esv

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

Proverbs 30:4 nlt

Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name ? and his son's name?
Tell me if you know!

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 4 Meaning

Proverbs 30:4 poses a series of rhetorical questions, aiming to highlight the unique, unparalleled attributes of God: His transcendent power, His complete control over creation, and the mystery of His divine identity. The climax is the bold inquiry about "His Son's name," which foreshadows a specific revelation regarding God's nature and relationship, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The verse challenges human limited knowledge and points to God as the sole possessor of such profound wisdom and authority.

Proverbs 30 4 Context

Proverbs 30 is attributed to Agur son of Jakeh, an obscure figure whose words stand out as a distinct section within the book of Proverbs, distinct from the collections of Solomon. Unlike many proverbs which offer direct advice, Agur’s section often begins with a philosophical or existential reflection. Verse 4 appears at the beginning of Agur's discourse, immediately after he describes himself as "weary, O God, weary, O God!" (v.1) and admitting his lack of human understanding compared to God's wisdom (v.2-3). This profound sense of human limitation sets the stage for the series of rhetorical questions in verse 4, which underscore God's unfathomable nature and power, far exceeding human comprehension or capability. Historically and culturally, this passage challenges any anthropomorphic pagan deities or philosophical ideas that attempted to grasp or limit God.

Proverbs 30 4 Word analysis

• Who (מִי - mi): This interrogative pronoun introduces each rhetorical question, challenging the listener to identify any human or lesser being capable of such feats. It implies exclusivity and transcendence.
• has ascended (עָלָה - 'alah): Literally "to go up." Implies gaining divine knowledge, authority, or power through direct access to the heavenly realm. It highlights divine intimacy and origin, as no human can naturally do this.
• to heaven (שָׁמַיִם - shamayim): The abode of God, the celestial realm. Signifies divine authority and revelation.
• and come down (וַיֵּרֶד - vayered): Literally "and went down." Suggests a complete traverse of the divine realm, implying full knowledge and mastery, and also the bringing of heavenly truth or power to the earthly realm.
• Who has gathered (אָסַף - 'asaf): To collect, to bring together. Denotes total control over an otherwise chaotic or uncontrollable element.
• the wind (רוּחַ - ruach): Can mean wind, breath, or spirit. Here, it refers to a powerful, elusive, and uncontrollable natural force. To gather it implies absolute power over nature.
• in His fists (בְּחָפְנָיו - b'chofnav): Literally "in his hollowed hands/palms." This vivid image conveys the idea of holding something vast and intangible as if it were small and easily contained. It emphasizes God's immense power and ease of control.
• Who has wrapped (צָרַר - tsarar): To bind, tie up, enclose, or enclose securely. It suggests effortlessly containing and controlling.
• the waters (מַיִם - mayim): Refers to the vast, powerful, and potentially destructive waters of the sea, rivers, or rain. Symbolizes forces of nature that humanity cannot control.
• in His garment (בַּשִׂמְלָה - basimlah): "In the cloak" or outer covering. This metaphor compares controlling vast waters to easily gathering something in a piece of clothing, showcasing God's limitless dominion over creation.
• Who has established (הֵקִים - heqim): To set up, establish, confirm, make stand. Implies foundational work, giving stability and permanence.
• all the ends of the earth (כָּל־קַצְוֵי אָרֶץ - kol-qatzvei 'arets): Literally "all the boundaries/corners of the earth." This signifies the entire vast extent of the world, highlighting God as the Creator and Sustainer of the entire physical cosmos.
• What is His name (מַה־שְּׁמוֹ - mah shmo): In Hebrew thought, a "name" represents character, reputation, authority, and identity. This asks for the very essence and nature of the One who can do these things.
• and what is His Son's name (וּמַה־שֵּׁם־בְּנוֹ - umah shem b'no): This is the most profound and unique part of the verse for an Old Testament text. It directly references a divine "Son" associated with the Creator, implying a specific, pre-existent relationship and identity within the Godhead, prefiguring the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Surely you know! (אִי כִּי תֵדָע - 'iy kiy teda'): This can be ironic ("Of course, you wouldn't know!"), challenging ("You must surely know the answer if you claim wisdom!"), or a call for reflection (perhaps, if true wisdom exists, one will know this). It emphasizes that this knowledge is beyond human attainment unless revealed.

Proverbs 30 4 Bonus section

This verse stands out for its unique mention of "His Son's name" within the Old Testament, making it a pivotal text for understanding the progressive revelation of God's nature. Many early church fathers and Christian scholars have seen this as a direct Messianic prophecy, referring to Jesus Christ, who uniquely embodies the qualities described (ascending and descending from heaven, controlling creation, and revealing God's name). The very next verse (Prov 30:5), "Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him," follows immediately, implying that the answer to these profound questions about God and His Son is found in God's own perfect and reliable Word—the divine revelation. This passage therefore lays a foundation for trusting God's self-disclosure, even when His full nature, especially the Trinitarian aspect, remains a profound mystery to the finite human mind.

Proverbs 30 4 Commentary

Proverbs 30:4 serves as a potent theological declaration masquerading as a series of rhetorical questions. Agur's inquiries are designed to expose the utter incapacity of humanity to grasp, let alone replicate, the fundamental powers and knowledge inherent in the Creator God. No human has ever accessed the divine realm (heaven), nor can they control the wild, untamed forces of nature like the wind or the vastness of the oceans. No one but God laid the foundational stability of the earth. The ultimate challenge then is to name this being, whose attributes far surpass all known existence. Critically, the culminating question "and what is His Son's name?" pushes the inquiry beyond mere monotheism, introducing a profound pre-Christian hint of the Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. This passage subtly undermines any pagan beliefs in multiple, limited gods, while simultaneously pointing to a unique and deeper mystery within God Himself that only full divine revelation (in Christ) would unpack. It's a call to humility and recognition of divine wisdom as infinitely superior.