The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough. Agur shifts from corrupt generations to insatiable appetites using the numerical proverb formula. The alukah (עֲלוּקָה, horseleach/leech) may be literal bloodsucker or metaphorical vampire. Its "two daughters"—likely the two suckers or the endless cry "Give! Give!" (hav hav, הַב הַב)—personify ravenous greed.
This introduces the "three...yea four" pattern, a rhetorical device building suspense before revealing the climactic fourth item. The four that are "never satisfied" (lo sava, לֹא שָׂבֵעַ) represent natural forces or conditions exhibiting insatiable desire, illustrating spiritual truth through natural observation. This wisdom method—learning divine principles from creation—reflects Solomon's approach: "he spake of trees...of beasts, and of fowl" (1 Kings 4:33). The leech's insatiable nature mirrors human greed that destroys both possessor and prey.
Historical Context
Numerical proverbs appear throughout ancient Near Eastern literature. Ugaritic texts use the same formula. Amos employs it prophetically: "For three transgressions...and for four" (Amos 1-2). The device creates memorable teaching through rhythmic repetition. In oral cultures before mass literacy, such mnemonic structures preserved wisdom across generations. The specific images Agur selects (grave, womb, earth, fire) would resonate universally across cultures while carrying particular significance in Israelite thought. Each represents a fundamental human experience—death, barrenness, drought, destruction—familiar to agrarian societies dependent on fertility and vulnerable to natural disasters.
Questions for Reflection
What modern 'daughters of the leech' constantly cry 'Give, give' in consumer culture, addiction patterns, or relational dynamics?
How does the gospel address insatiable human desire—not by denying legitimate longings but by redirecting them toward Christ (John 4:13-14)?
Where in your life do you struggle with the 'never enough' mentality rather than cultivating contentment in God's provision (1 Timothy 6:6-8)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough. Agur shifts from corrupt generations to insatiable appetites using the numerical proverb formula. The alukah (עֲלוּקָה, horseleach/leech) may be literal bloodsucker or metaphorical vampire. Its "two daughters"—likely the two suckers or the endless cry "Give! Give!" (hav hav, הַב הַב)—personify ravenous greed.
This introduces the "three...yea four" pattern, a rhetorical device building suspense before revealing the climactic fourth item. The four that are "never satisfied" (lo sava, לֹא שָׂבֵעַ) represent natural forces or conditions exhibiting insatiable desire, illustrating spiritual truth through natural observation. This wisdom method—learning divine principles from creation—reflects Solomon's approach: "he spake of trees...of beasts, and of fowl" (1 Kings 4:33). The leech's insatiable nature mirrors human greed that destroys both possessor and prey.