Proverbs 30:24

Proverbs 30:24

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

a. ASV: There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:

b. YLT: Four are little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

c. Classic Amplified: There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

d. Septuagint: And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: There are four among the small [creatures] of earth who are wise, having been made wise by their Creator.

1. “There be four things which are little upon the earth…”

a. There be [Strong: 1992 hem haym or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from 1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.]

b. four [things] [Strong: 702 'arba` ar-bah' masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.]

c. [which are] little [Strong: 6996 qatan kaw-tawn' or qaton {kaw-tone'}; from 6962; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance):--least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est).]

d. [upon the] earth [Strong: 776 'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

2. “...but they are exceeding wise:”

a. [but] they [are] [Strong: 1992 hem haym or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from 1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.]

b. exceeding [Strong: 2449 chakam khaw-kam' a primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):--X exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.]

c. wise [Strong: 2450 chakam khaw-kawm' from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted), man).]

1). All of creation was created with the redemption of man in mind. Every creature created on the earth was created by God, with the redemption of man in mind. The intricacies of the wisdom of God in every species of all creatures on the earth are amazing and truly wonderful. Each has its advantages, and its deficiencies (Job 12:7-10). In this passage it mentions four creatures that God created, and examples of wisdom that God instilled in them. I love the Jewish translation of Proverbs 30:24, that says, “having been made wise by their Creator.” Before we get into the four examples of the passage I want to cite some other examples also mention in the word of God.

2). Examples abound in Scripture where God’s wisdom or lack of wisdom in Creation is on display.

a). Job 39:26-30 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

39:27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

39:28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

39:29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

39:30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

(1) Bald eagles: All eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight, and the bald eagle is no exception. They have two foveae or centers of focus, that allow the birds to see both forward and to the side at the same time. Bald eagles are capable of seeing fish in the water from several hundred feet above, while soaring, gliding or in flapping flight. This is quite an extraordinary feat, since most fish are counter-shaded, meaning they are darker on top and thus harder to see from above. Eagles have eyelids that close during sleep. For blinking, they also have an inner eyelid called a nictitating membrane. Every three or four seconds, the nictitating membrane slides across the eye from front to back, wiping dirt and dust from the cornea. Because the membrane is translucent, the eagle can see even while it is over the eye.  Eagles, like all birds, have color vision. An eagle's eye is almost as large as a human's, but its sharpness is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. The eagle can probably identify a rabbit moving almost a mile away. That means that an eagle flying at an altitude of 1000 feet over open country could spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position. www.baldeagleinfo.com

(2) Peregrine falcons: These falcons are formidable hunters that prey on other birds (and bats) in mid-flight. Peregrines hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift dive that can top 200 miles an hour (320 kilometers an hour). Peregrine falcons are among the world's most common birds of prey and live on all continents except Antarctica. They prefer wide-open spaces, and thrive near coasts where shorebirds are common, but they can be found everywhere from tundra to deserts. Peregrines are even known to live on bridges and skyscrapers in major cities. These birds may travel widely outside the nesting season—their name means "wanderer." Though some individuals are permanent residents, many migrate. Those that nest on Arctic tundra and winter in South America fly as many as 15,500 miles (25,000 kilometers) in a year. Yet they have an incredible homing instinct that leads them back to favored aeries. Some nesting sites have been in continuous use for hundreds of years, occupied by successive generations of falcons. www.animals.nationalgeographic.com

b). Job 39:13-17 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? Or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

39:14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

39:15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

39:16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

39:17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.