Who is agur in the bible

Who Was Agur in the Bible?

In the US, when a person asks another about their background, he often says, “Who are you?” frequently followed by, “What do you do?” In nations such as India and others in the Far East, sharing a name is most often followed with a more probing question, “And who is your father?” The family reputation surpasses a person’s name and employment, for included in the father’s name is all the history encompassed by the family. In the Bible, Agur, the son of Jakeh, is the originator of the wisdom found in Proverbs 30 (Proverbs 1:1).

The name, Agur translates to the word, gathered. His father’s name, Jakeh, means pious, or carefully religious. Would that a son continue with a life full of the meaning behind such a name? There is a possibility Jakeh is from an Ishmaelite tribe, for a note on Proverbs 30:1b states oracle may instead be Jakeh, a man of Massa. We know nothing about the two men outside Proverbs 30:1. We would add, however, the sayings found in Proverbs 30 give us insight into the man because God used Agur to pen a chapter in the Bible. What an honor to be entrusted with inscribing words as part of the Holy Scriptures. As far as the two other names from Proverbs 30:1—Ithiel and Ucal—both are probable disciples of Agur. Ithiel, whose name means God is with me, was a Benjamite from the time of Nehemiah. Ucal’s name means devoured.

What Are Some of Agur's Insights in Proverbs 30?

As with the other proverbs, every verse is a nugget of gold. The word proverb means to be like, and Proverbs contains comparisons between everyday physical images and life’s greatest truths. Proverbs contains plain, ethical statements that explain and expand upon foundational realities of life. Proverbs 30 is no exception; it serves as an illustration of the ways of man versus the wisdom of God.

Agur reflects deep humility at the outset of his verses, and we know only those who are humble at heart can receive instruction from the Lord. His point of self-reference is God (verse 5), and in comparison, he expresses utter stupidity (v. 2). The following verses reveal Agur knows true wisdom can only come from God. It is God who is in heaven. It is He who controls the atmosphere and the waters of the earth. God established the earth and Agur points his thoughts to Him and to His Son (v. 4). Verse 4 poses questions that can only be answered by God, therefore, revealing more of the depth of Agur’s self-effacing adoration of Him.

With no veil, Agur imitates the words of Psalm 19:7 when he speaks of the purity of God’s every word (v.5a). In verse 5b, Agur mirrors Psalm 18:30 when speaking of God as a shield to those who trust Him.

Agur then follows his statements with a warning not to add to God’s words (v. 6), for to add to them is to reject God’s authority. He who does is a liar and is subject to a rebuke from the Lord. Strong words indeed!

In verses 7-9, Agur asks that “falsehood and lies” be far from him (protection) and then asks that he be neither rich nor poor. He asks for a modest life due to potential deceit which comes from both extremes. For with fortune, he might deny God (his dependence upon Him), and in poverty, he may steal or “profane the name of my God.” Any of the options (denying God, stealing, or profaning His name) is sin. What he and we are to seek is a life of sufficiency from the Lord (not from things of the world).

In the NKJV, each of verses 11-14 begins with, “There is a generation…” These verses point out certain types of people who can negatively affect a whole society or era:

Verse 11: Cursing a father and not blessing a mother (cf. Exodus 21:17).

Verse 12: Looking pure but full of filth (cf. Matthew 23:23-26, James 1:21).

Verse 13: Arrogance (cf. Psalm 131:1, Proverbs 11:2, James 4:16).

Verse 14: Ungodly speech and spite for the poor (cf. Psalm 50:19; Psalm 52:2, Deuteronomy 15:7, Luke 11:41, Galatians 2:10, James 2:6).

Verses 15-16 address the greedy by declaring they are like a leech for whom there is never enough.

Verse 17 speaks about the disdain for parental regard and its results.

By way of contrasting the glorious with the profane, Agur expresses things too wonderful for him. Each is an object lesson. Thinking of an eagle in flight, a serpent on a rock, a ship in the sea, and a man’s way with a virgin—each leaves no mark, no trail. Hypocrisy is likened to them in verse 20 when an adulteress seeks to hide her sin yet claims innocence.

Agur makes startling comparisons in verses 24-31 when he writes of small animals who survive based upon their instincts, which points to their wise Creator. Agur goes on in verses 29-31 to declare of the majestic pace of a lion, a greyhound, and a goat. Each description directs our attention to God’s wisdom and power.

Verses 31-32 are an admonition to self-exaltation. It is sure to bring nothing but wrath.

Who Wrote Proverbs?

The contents of Proverbs are part of the wisdom literature found in the Bible (the others are Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). They seem random at times, but they fit together into a whole on three basic matters: general wisdom, understandings from the king’s court, and parental instructions to children. King Solomon wrote most of the proverbs and is identified as such in Proverbs 1:1. Solomon loved the Lord (1 Kings 3:3) and when the Lord appeared before Solomon in a vision at Gibeon, He said to Solomon, “Ask, what shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon answered, “…an understanding heart to judge Your people…” (1 Kings 3:9). In essence, Solomon asked for wisdom from the Lord. 513 of his most important of the 3,000 sayings uttered by him are found in Proverbs (1 Kings 4:32; Eccl. 12:9). Chapters 30 and 31 were presented by two others (Agur and Lemuel).

Proverbs, as with other wisdom literature, is replete with Hebrew poetry. It is essentially thought-based in balanced corresponding lines, and all relate to spiritual health. Certain truths/teachings are repeated throughout Proverbs, and short, pointed phrases fill each of its thirty-one chapters. For instance, instructions regarding fools and the foolish are repeated at least fifty times throughout Proverbs (e.g., Proverbs 10:8; 12:15; 15:5; 18:2; 26:11). Agur, too, tells of a fool’s folly in verse 22. While we look at the complete Bible as instruction (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and follow each, we should look at the repetitions as strong instruction.

It’s good to read the writings of someone as obscure as Agur, even though he is but one writer in Scripture. God uses who He will for His purposes. It’s not Agur’s name, it’s his exaltation of the Lord we remember and from which we grow. It’d be an interesting exercise—when you meet someone new—to ask them about their earthly father after they share their name. We’d learn so much more about them, hopefully opening conversation toward our heavenly Father.

Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Naassom Azevedo

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

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