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Proverbs 30:17

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 30:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
Proverbs 30:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14There 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.
15The horseleach hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, [Yea], four that say not, Enough:
16Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.
17The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not:
19The 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.
20So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.
← Proverbs 30:16Proverbs 30:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The eye--for the person, with reference to the use of the organ to express mockery and contempt, and also as that by which punishment is received. the ravens . . . eagles . . . eat--either as dying unnaturally, or being left unburied, or both.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The eye - He that scorneth or derideth his parents, tho' it be but with a look or gesture, and much more when he breaks out into opprobrious words and actions. Proverbs 30:18”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:17 People who are callous toward their parents will meet a violent end (see 10:1; 19:26; 28:24; 29:3; 30:11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“eye: Pro 30:11, Pro 20:20, Pro 23:22; Gen 9:21-27; Lev 20:9; Deu 21:18-21; Sa2 18:9, Sa2 18:10, Sa2 18:14-17 the ravens: Sa1 17:44; Sa2 21:10 valley: or, brook Proverbs 30:18”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The proverb of the ‛Alûka is the first of the proverbs founded on the figure of an animal among the "words" of Agur. It is now followed by another of a similar character: 17 An eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth obedience to his mother: The ravens of the brook shall pluck it out, And the young eagles shall eat it. If "an eye," and not "eyes," are spoken of here, this is accounted for by the consideration that the duality of the organ falls back against the unity of the mental activity and mental expression which it serves (cf. Psychol. p. 234). As haughtiness reveals itself ( Pro 30:13) in the action of the eyes, so is the eye also the mirror of humble subordination, and also of…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification