KJV ORIGINAL
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The grave; a woman who cannot have children; dry ground that desperately needs water; and fire that never says, 'That's enough.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is describing four things in nature that are never satisfied and always want more.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a numerical proverb by Agur, a wise teacher in ancient Israel. In the ancient Near East, numerical sayings were a common teaching method used to help people remember important truths. The specific examples chosen reflect the daily realities of ancient life - death, infertility, drought, and uncontrolled fire were all serious concerns that people understood intimately.
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