Agur

Biblical Record

Agur is introduced in Proverbs 30:1 with the words "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh." The text states that he spoke these words "unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal," but it records nothing about his origins, occupation, or life. The principal contents of Proverbs 30 are as follows:

• He confesses the inadequacy of his own knowledge and asks who has ascended into heaven and descended, who has gathered the wind and bound the waters, and "what is his son's name" (Proverbs 30:2–4).
• He declares that every word of God is pure and warns against adding to His words (Proverbs 30:5–6).
• He asks for two things before he dies: that vanity and lies be removed far from him, and that he be given neither poverty nor riches but only the food he needs (Proverbs 30:7–9).
• A series of short numerical sayings follows, using formulas such as "three things… yea, four," that observe the natural world and human behavior. A well-known example is the saying about four creatures that are small yet wise: the ant, the rock badger, the locust, and the lizard (Proverbs 30:24–28).

Significance Within Scripture

Agur's words are among the sections of Proverbs that do not bear the name of Solomon. They show that Proverbs is a collection of sayings from several sages, and they clearly express the humility and fear of God characteristic of wisdom literature. The warning not to add to God's words resembles Deuteronomy 4:2. The New Testament does not mention Agur by name.

Interpretation and Debated Questions

• Identity: Some strands of Jewish tradition interpret Agur as another name for Solomon. Most modern scholars regard him as a sage distinct from Solomon. Another view reads one word in Proverbs 30:1 as a place name, identifying him as a man of Massa, a descendant of Ishmael.
• Ithiel and Ucal: Some scholars and translations read these words not as personal names but as a sentence, such as "I am weary, O God."
• Ancient translations: The Septuagint does not render the name as a proper noun, and the Vulgate is likewise known to have translated the name according to its meaning.
• Extent of the sayings: Opinions differ on where in chapter 30 Agur's words end.
• "His son" (30:4): In Christian interpretive tradition, this phrase is sometimes read in connection with the Son of God. Other interpreters regard it simply as a rhetorical question.
• Not adding to God's words (30:5–6): This passage is frequently cited as a supporting text in explanations of biblical inerrancy.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Proverbs 30:7–9 is commonly called "the Prayer of Agur" and is frequently used as a text on attitudes toward material possessions and on contentment. It is often cited together with 1 Timothy 6:6–9.