A Generation with Sword Teeth - Proverbs 30:14

In the book of Proverbs Agur said, “there is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up”, and in chapter thirty and verse fourteen of Proverbs Agur said, “there is a generation, whose teeth are as swords” where we read,

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords,

and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth,

and the needy from among men.

The verse begins, “There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, ...” Agur began with the words, “there is a generation” or “there exists a period, age and class of people”, “whose teeth are as swords” which means “whose tines or teeth within their mouths are similar and in likeness to knives, axes, daggers or mattocks”. Agur said an age of people exists whose teeth in their mouths are like knives or mattocks. 

The verse goes on to say, “and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth,” Agur continued with the words, “and their jaw teeth” or “and their fangs or incisors used for biting” “as knives” which means “are similar and in likeness to cutting instruments used for dividing”, “to devour the poor” or “to feed upon, burn up and consume people who are in want, in need, impoverished and destitute” “from off the earth” which means “separate and apart from the country, territory, region and world”. Agur said an age exists who use their incisors for biting to devour people who are impoverished from the region and world. 

Finally the verse says, “and the needy from among men.” Agur completed this verse with the words, “and the needy” or “and people who are in want, oppressed and in the lowest class” “from among men” which means “separate and apart from the midst or middle of people whether male or female”. Agur said an age exists who also use their “jaw teeth” to consume people who are oppressed from the midst of humanity. 

When we think through Agur's words in this verse, we learn through Agur how there is an age of people who use the teeth in their mouths to consume people who are in need in the world. This violates God's way of caring for people, and when we sin against people who are impoverished, we sin against God Himself. (See Matthew 25:40) God wants us to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and produce within us a compassion for people who are in need upon that others would devour with the “teeth” that God has provided to them. 

Next time Agur says, “the horseleach has two daughters, crying, Give, give”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".