Proverbs 30:33
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 13
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
י֣וֹצִיא
bringeth forth
H3318
י֣וֹצִיא
bringeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
4 of 13
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
of the nose
H639
אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
of the nose
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
7 of 13
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
י֣וֹצִיא
bringeth forth
H3318
י֣וֹצִיא
bringeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
8 of 13
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
דָ֑ם
blood
H1818
דָ֑ם
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
9 of 13
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
of the nose
H639
אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
of the nose
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
11 of 13
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
Cross References
Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.Proverbs 28:25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Historical Context
Ancient dairy production involved churning milk in skins or pottery to separate butter. The physical analogy would be immediately clear to agrarian audiences. The wordplay on אַף ('nose' and 'anger') is lost in English but powerful in Hebrew. Agur's agricultural wisdom applies to emotional and spiritual life: cultivation determines harvest.
Questions for Reflection
- What are you 'churning' in your heart—and what will it inevitably produce?
- Where are you 'forcing wrath' by nurturing grievances rather than releasing them to God?
- How can you cultivate peace and grace with the same intentionality that produces butter from milk?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter (כִּי מִיץ חָלָב יוֹצִיא חֶמְאָה, ki mitz chalav yotzi chem'ah)—מִיץ (mitz, 'pressing, churning, squeezing') of חָלָב (chalav, 'milk') produces (יָצָא, yatza) חֶמְאָה (chem'ah, 'butter, curds'). Natural process: consistent pressure produces desired result.
And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood (וּמִיץ־אַף יוֹצִיא דָם, umitz-af yotzi dam)—מִיץ (mitz, 'pressing, squeezing') of אַף (af, 'nose, nostril') brings דָּם (dam, 'blood'). Violent pressure produces violent result.
So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife (וּמִיץ אַפַּיִם יוֹצִיא רִיב, umitz appayim yotzi riv)—similarly, מִיץ אַפַּיִם (mitz appayim, 'pressing/forcing of anger') produces רִיב (riv, 'strife, contention, lawsuit'). Note: אַף means both 'nose' and 'anger' (anger 'flares the nostrils'). Nurturing anger, dwelling on grievances, pressing resentment inevitably produces conflict. The lesson: what you press/cultivate determines what emerges. Press milk, get butter; press anger, get strife. Ephesians 4:26-27: 'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.'