The mysterious Agur appears in the book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings mostly from Solomon. The Bible contains books from different sources and across several genres, and Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature, along with Ecclesiastes, writings especially focused on passing on practical life application based on God’s truth.
While most people know King Solomon, the son of David, Agur remains obscure to most people. However, his recorded sayings and his prayer have influenced many.
Who Was Agur in the Bible?
We recognize Agur primarily from Proverbs 30, where his words are recorded in a separate section of the book of Proverbs.
Traditionally, we credit King Solomon with writing the majority of Proverbs. However, other contributors include Agur and King Lemuel. Proverbs offers timeless advice on various subjects, including morality, relationships, wealth, work, and speech, all aiming to teach readers how to live in a way that honors God.
Proverbs 30, toward the end of the book, lists Agur’s sayings. The chapter opens with, “The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh.” Beyond this introduction, the Bible has no other mention of Agur, leaving his identity a mystery. His writings do offer some insight into his character and understanding of God, however.
Agur’s writings begin with an honest confession regarding his limitations. “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.” Here Agur recognizes his own weakness and ignorance compared to God’s infinite wisdom. His humility serves as an important foundation. He seeks knowledge not from his own ability but from God’s revelation.
Agur also expresses a reverence for God. He asks rhetorical questions (a common philosophical tactic) in verse 4 to teach the vastness of God’s power and wisdom. “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth?” These questions remind us of God’s answer to Job near the end of that story. God uses similar questions to underscore the wide difference between God and creation. Here in Proverbs 30, Agur points to God’s transcendent nature, which is crucial for receiving wisdom from the Creator who knows all mysteries.
What Do We Know About Agur’s Life?
Proverbs only mentions Agur as the son of Jakeh. Because of his expressed humility (Proverbs 30:2-3), many scholars believe Agur may have been a wise man who didn’t belong to the traditional community of Israelite intellectuals. The name Agur means “collector” or “gatherer,” suggesting he might have been someone who gathered wisdom from various sources.
The mention of Jakeh, Agur’s father, adds a degree of mystery since the name appears nowhere else in Scripture. Some scholars propose that Jakeh may have been an unknown figure, possibly even from outside Israel. This leads to speculation that Agur could have been a non-Israelite but deeply connected to the Lord. His Gentile background may have influenced his humility and low view of himself. Other scholars suggest Jakeh could be a symbolic name, meaning “obedient” or “pious,” implying coming from a lineage devoted to God.
Some scholars also believe Agur could be a fictional figure representing a type of wise teacher, reflecting a style common in ancient literature. However, his sayings fit within the broader wisdom of Proverbs but have a unique and distinct voice. As with many obscure biblical people, he was likely a real person, and these verses prove the only thing recorded about him.
What are Agur’s Sayings in Proverbs 30?
Agur’s writings in Proverbs 30 collect sayings about wisdom’s nature, human life’s complexity, and the mysteries of God’s creation. Throughout, Agur’s humility and focus on God truly shine.
In Proverbs 30:5-6, Agur proclaims the perfection of God’s word. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Agur emphasizes “every word” of God is pure and righteous, and we can trust his promises. Agur also cautions against any attempts to twist or add to what God has already revealed. Those people will then be proved a liar. These principles align with other biblical themes of God’s trustworthy and perfect word (Psalm 12:6 and Deuteronomy 4:2). Ultimately, God’s Word came in human form in Christ (John 1), and we find in the Son the embodied message and mind of the Father.
Like much wisdom literature, Agur contemplates life’s mysteries. Solomon’s proverbs express certain things in lists, and Agur does the same in Proverbs 30:18-19, where he marvels at the wonder of four things: “the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.” The proverb focuses on the last, comparing a man courting a woman with his awe regarding natural mysteries. The eagle, the snake, and the ship analogies appear simple, but further exploration makes them difficult to understand. A young man with a woman seems to wander and soar his way to his destination: a young woman, somehow finding her. Like in ancient times, romantic relationships still have the power to captivate us today.
Proverbs speaks extensively about money and greed, and Agur touches on the foolishness of arrogance and greed. Proverbs 30:15-16 lists insatiable things. “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. There are three things that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’” These metaphors point to the destructive nature of unchecked desire, especially with money. Agur warns against greed, comparing it to all-consuming forces. Again, we see warnings against greed throughout the Old and New Testaments. In Luke 12:15, Christ says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Why is Agur’s Prayer Significant for Christians?
Agur offers a prayer to God in Proverbs 30: “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die; Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may be come poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Agur’s simple prayer offers a few important principles for Christians today.
First, we must remember to love the truth and recognize the danger in lies. As Agur says, “Keep falsehood and lies far from me.” With an enemy ready to tempt our sinful hearts, deception can easily lead us astray. Yet lies lead to death, as we see from Adam and Eve in the Garden. Agur’s desire to live in truth reminds us to walk in God’s light (John 14:6). Jesus, who is the truth, calls us to pursue lives known for integrity and honesty. Like Agur, we must learn to reject dishonesty and live in God’s truth, and his prayer implies he requires God’s help to stay in the light.
Second, Agar desires to live in contentment. He pleads for “neither poverty nor riches.” As Jesus instructed in the Lord’s Prayer, we daily ask for our basic needs to be met, depending on God for provision. Through prayer, we find the discipline to be content with little and trust the Lord’s love and character for tomorrow’s provision. When we feel ourselves becoming desperate, experiencing lack, we can remember to cast all our cares upon God, for he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). To find the peace of Christ, we approach God with thanksgiving and bring our requests to him. Then peace comes (Philippians 4:6).
Third, Agur wisely recognizes the danger in the extremes of wealth and great poverty. Both can lead to sin and rebellion. He acknowledges that riches can awcause pride and self-sufficiency, which lead us away from God: “I may have too much and disown you.” The Bible notes many instances in which abundance damages faith. The story of Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler who couldn’t let go of his material possessions is a prime example (Matthew 19:21-22). Paul also warns the wealthy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
God isn’t against money or material possessions. However, these are temporary at best, and wealth proves uncertain, a poor foundation for life. Further, Paul also reiterates Agur’s warning about arrogance regarding wealth, and pride lies at the root of sin and death. God is life, and he wants to give us great and eternal things. With an eternal perspective and contentment with our basic needs being met, we can use money to be generous and lay up treasure in heaven by helping those in need. God rewards us in the coming age with treasure we can’t lose.
By seeking daily provision and rejecting both excess and lack, we can live in a way that honors God, reflects our dependence on him, and brings us treasure in heaven.
Peace.
Further Reading
Why Should We Know about Agur, Author of the Sayings in Proverbs 30?
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