Proverbs 30

“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel - to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One. 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? Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:1-6 (NKJV)

Nobody really knows who Agur, son of Jakeh is.  Neither Agur, his father, nor his sons Ithiel and Ucal are mentioned anywhere else in Scripture.  Some scholars speculate that Agur is a nickname for Solomon, but that does not explain his father and children.  Other scholars think he was a Gentile, living between Judea and Babylon, but that does not explain how his wisdom was included in the Jewish proverbs, which point to God’s revelation as the only true source of Wisdom.  Finally, other scholars think he was an allegorical character with his name loosely translated in Hebrew as “the one who first gathered maxims together," his father’s name meaning "despised," and his son's names understood to mean “I am weary” and “I am exhausted.”  Less important than who Agur was, is what he said.

His words seem to mirror Job’s, which point to God (specifically, the Godhead Person of Messiah – Jesus) as the creator of heaven and earth. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-14) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7 (NKJV)

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:5 (NKJV)

We understand Agur grasped the idea of Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”) because he learned God’s Word from his father, and Biblical values were passed down for four generations.  That is because they not only taught the Word, but he did not add to it!  (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32)  Let the same be said of us!  Walk in the Word, not turning right or left!

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-20 (NKJV)