The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
The way {H1870} of an eagle {H5404} in the air {H8064}; the way {H1870} of a serpent {H5175} upon a rock {H6697}; the way {H1870} of a ship {H591} in the midst {H3820} of the sea {H3220}; and the way {H1870} of a man {H1397} with a maid {H5959}.
the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the open sea, and the way of a man with a girl.
the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.
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Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. -
Job 39:27
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? -
Exodus 22:16
¶ And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
Proverbs 30:19, part of the sayings of Agur son of Jakeh, presents a fascinating list of four things whose "way" or path is mysterious and difficult to trace. The verse highlights the inscrutable nature of certain phenomena, moving from the natural world to the profound depths of human relationships.
Context
This verse is found within Proverbs chapter 30, which contains the words of Agur, a wise man whose identity is otherwise unknown. His sayings often involve numerical proverbs, particularly lists of "four things" that share a common characteristic. Here, the common thread is their inexplicable or untraceable nature. This section of Proverbs serves to broaden the scope of wisdom beyond Solomon's direct teachings, emphasizing that wisdom comes from various sources and often involves acknowledging the limits of human understanding.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "maid" in this verse is 'almah (עַלְמָה). This term typically refers to a young woman, often unmarried or of marriageable age, though it doesn't explicitly denote virginity in every context. Its use here highlights the specific dynamics of a man's pursuit or relationship with a young woman, emphasizing the delicate, often hidden, and uniquely personal nature of such interactions, distinguishing them from more general social relationships.
Practical Application
Proverbs 30:19 encourages us to embrace the mystery and wonder in life, rather than striving to dissect and understand everything. It teaches: