Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Original Language Analysis
מִ֤י
H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 24
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
עָלָֽה
Who hath ascended up
H5927
עָלָֽה
Who hath ascended up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
2 of 24
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
שָׁמַ֨יִם׀
into heaven
H8064
שָׁמַ֨יִם׀
into heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
3 of 24
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וַיֵּרַ֡ד
or descended
H3381
וַיֵּרַ֡ד
or descended
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
4 of 24
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִ֤י
H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
5 of 24
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
אָֽסַף
who hath gathered
H622
אָֽסַף
who hath gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
6 of 24
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
ר֨וּחַ׀
the wind
H7307
ר֨וּחַ׀
the wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
7 of 24
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
מִ֤י
H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
9 of 24
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
צָֽרַר
who hath bound
H6887
צָֽרַר
who hath bound
Strong's:
H6887
Word #:
10 of 24
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
מַ֨יִם׀
the waters
H4325
מַ֨יִם׀
the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
11 of 24
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
מִ֭י
H4310
מִ֭י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
13 of 24
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
הֵקִ֣ים
who hath established
H6965
הֵקִ֣ים
who hath established
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
14 of 24
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אַפְסֵי
all the ends
H657
אַפְסֵי
all the ends
Strong's:
H657
Word #:
16 of 24
cessation, i.e., an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or f
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
18 of 24
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
שֶּׁם
name
H8034
שֶּׁם
name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
19 of 24
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
וּמַֽה
H4100
וּמַֽה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
20 of 24
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
שֶּׁם
name
H8034
שֶּׁם
name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
21 of 24
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בְּ֝נ֗וֹ
and what is his son's
H1121
בְּ֝נ֗וֹ
and what is his son's
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
22 of 24
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Cross References
John 3:13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.Job 26:8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Deuteronomy 30:12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?Romans 10:6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)Revelation 19:12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.Isaiah 53:8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.Psalms 68:18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.Deuteronomy 28:58If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern creation myths attributed cosmic powers to various gods. Agur's questions assert monotheism—only Yahweh and His Son possess creative and sustaining power over creation.
Questions for Reflection
- How do these questions about cosmic power point you to worship God's transcendence?
- How do you see anticipation of Christ as God's Son in this Old Testament text?
- What does it mean that the Creator descended to earth in Jesus Christ?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Agur asks: Who has ascended to heaven or descended? Who gathered wind or bound waters? Who established earth's ends? 'What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' These rhetorical questions point to God's transcendent power and anticipate Christ ('his son'). Only God has cosmic authority. Reformed theology sees this as proto-Trinitarian—Father and Son governing creation. These questions humble human pretension while pointing to divine power and the coming Messiah.