Proverbs 30:7
Proverbs 30:7 in Multiple Translations
Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die:
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me them not before I die:
I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death:
God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.
“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.
Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die:
Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die.
God, I ask you to do two things for me; please do them before I die:
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 30:7
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 30:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שְׁ֭תַּיִם
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי
מֵ/אִתָּ֑/ךְ
אַל
תִּמְנַ֥ע
מִ֝מֶּ֗/נִּי
בְּ/טֶ֣רֶם
אָמֽוּת
שְׁ֭תַּיִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Adj
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי
shâʼal
H7592
to ask
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
מֵ/אִתָּ֑/ךְ
ʼêth
H854
with
Prep | Prep | Suff
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תִּמְנַ֥ע
mânaʻ
H4513
to withhold
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
מִ֝מֶּ֗/נִּי
min
H4480
from
Prep | Suff
בְּ/טֶ֣רֶם
ṭerem
H2962
before
Prep | Adv
אָמֽוּת
mûwth
H4191
to die
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 30:7
שְׁ֭תַּיִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי
shâʼal
H7592
"to ask"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Definition: 1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. See also: Genesis 24:47; 2 Samuel 8:10; Psalms 2:8.
מֵ/אִתָּ֑/ךְ
ʼêth
H854
"with"
Prep | Prep | Suff
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Definition: 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Usage: Occurs in 787 OT verses. KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix. See also: Genesis 4:1; Genesis 42:32; Numbers 1:5.
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּמְנַ֥ע
mânaʻ
H4513
"to withhold"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
To withhold means to hold something back or keep it from someone. In the Bible, this word is used to describe God withholding something from people, or people withholding things from each other.
Definition: 1) to withhold, hold back, keep back, refrain, deny, keep restrain, hinder 1a) (Qal) to withhold 1b) (Niphal) to be withheld
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold. See also: Genesis 30:2; Proverbs 1:15; Psalms 21:3.
מִ֝מֶּ֗/נִּי
min
H4480
"from"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.
בְּ/טֶ֣רֶם
ṭerem
H2962
"before"
Prep | Adv
This word indicates something has not happened yet, or it happened before something else. It is used to show timing or sequence of events, translated as before, ere, or not yet in the KJV.
Definition: before, not yet, before that
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: before, ere, not yet. See also: Genesis 2:5; 2 Kings 6:32; Psalms 5:6.
אָמֽוּת
mûwth
H4191
"to die"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Definition: 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely
Usage: Occurs in 695 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. See also: Genesis 2:17; Exodus 21:18; Numbers 35:21.
Study Notes — Proverbs 30:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 30:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 30:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 30:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 30:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
- Sermons on Proverbs 30:7
Context — The Words of Agur
5Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die:
8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. 9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 10:42 | But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.” |
| 2 | 2 Kings 2:9 | After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. |
| 3 | Psalms 27:4 | One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. |
| 4 | Psalms 21:2 | You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah |
| 5 | 1 Kings 3:5–9 | One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” |
Proverbs 30:7 Summary
In Proverbs 30:7, the writer is making a simple yet profound request to God, asking Him to grant him two specific things before he dies. He is seeking to prioritize his relationship with God and to trust Him fully with his needs and desires, as we see in Proverbs 3:5-6. This verse reminds us that our time on earth is limited, as mentioned in Psalms 39:4-5, and that we should seek to focus on what truly matters, which is our relationship with God. By trusting in God's goodness and provision, as seen in Matthew 6:25-34, we can find peace and contentment, even in the midst of uncertainty and challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two things the writer is asking of God in Proverbs 30:7?
The two things are specified in the following verses, Proverbs 30:8, where the writer asks God to keep falsehood and deceitful words far from him and to give him neither poverty nor riches, but rather the bread that is his portion, as seen in Proverbs 30:8-9.
Why is the writer asking God not to refuse him before he dies?
The writer is making a heartfelt and urgent request to God, acknowledging his mortality and the brevity of life, as mentioned in Psalms 39:4-5, and seeking to prioritize his relationship with God before his time on earth comes to an end.
Is it wrong to ask God for specific things like the writer is doing in Proverbs 30:7?
No, it is not wrong to ask God for specific things, as seen in Philippians 4:6, where we are encouraged to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, and in Matthew 7:7-8, where Jesus teaches us to ask, seek, and knock in our prayers to God.
How can we apply the writer's request to our own lives?
We can apply the writer's request by being mindful of our own mortality, as in Psalms 90:12, and seeking to prioritize our relationship with God, asking Him to guide us and provide for us in a way that honors Him, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Reflection Questions
- What are the most important things you are asking God for in your life right now, and are they aligned with His will as revealed in Scripture?
- In what ways are you seeking to prioritize your relationship with God in your daily life, and what distractions or obstacles are you facing?
- How do you think your life would change if you were to focus on seeking God's guidance and provision above all else, as the writer is doing in Proverbs 30:7-9?
- What are some ways you can cultivate a sense of dependence on God, as the writer is demonstrating in this verse, and how can you trust Him more fully with your needs and desires?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 30:7
Two [things] have I required of thee,.... Or, "have asked of thee (a), O God"; as may be supplied, for the words are addressed to him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 30:7
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Two prayers, followed by single sentences, (Proverbs 30:10, etc.) One prayer concerns the soul, the other the body.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
Have I required; I do earnestly and especially desire Deny me them not before I die, Heb. withhold them not from me before I die, i.e. whilst I live, as things of great and continual necessity for thy honour and service, and my own good.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
Proverbs 30:7 Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:Ver. 7. Two things have I required of thee.] Two special requests he had among many, for our present condition is a condition of singular vanity and indigence. We get our living by begging, and are never without somewhat to be required of God; never without our wants and ailments and suits for supplies. Deny me them not.] See here both his familiarity with God in prayer and his importunity; for a lazy suitor begs a denial. Agur therefore re-enforceth his request: it was honest, else he would never have begun it; but being so, he is resolved to follow it. So doth David with his "one thing" which he did desire, and he would desire, he would never give it over. So Jacob would have a blessing, and therefore wrestles with might and slight; and this he doth in the night and alone, and when God was leaving him, and upon one leg. He had a hard pull of it, and yet he prevailed. "Let me go," saith God: no, thou shalt not go, saith Jacob, till I have my request. It is not unlawful for us to be unmannerly in prayer, to be importunate, and after a sort impudent.
Was not the woman of Canaan so? She came for a cure, and a cure she would have; and had it too, with a high commendation of her heroic faith. Christ was no penny father; he had more blessings than one, even the abundance of the Spirit for them that ask it. When poor men make requests to us, we usually answer them as the echo doth the voice, the answer cuts off half the petition: if they ask us two things, we think we deal well if we grant them one. Few Naamans, that when you beg one talent will force you to take two. But God heaps mercies upon his suppliants, and blames them for their modesty in asking. "Hitherto you have asked me nothing"; nothing to what you might have done, and should have had. "Ask, that your joy may be full." "Thou shouldst have smitten five or six times," said the prophet to the king of Israel, that smote thrice only - "then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it." Before I die,] q.d., I intend to be a daily suitor for them while I live; and when I die I shall have no more to do in this kind. Every one as he hath some special grace or gift above others, and as he is dogged with some special temptation or violent corruption, so he hath some great request. And God holds him haply in hand about it all his lifelong, that he may daily hear from him, and that a constant intercourse may be maintained.
Thus it was with David, and with Paul.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
(7) Two things have I required of thee.—The commencement of a series of numerical proverbs. (See above on Proverbs 6:16.) Before I die—i.e., while life lasts.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
Verse 7. Two things have I required of thee] These two petitions are mentioned in the next verse; and he wishes to have them answered before he should die. That is, he wishes the answer now, that he may live the rest of his life in the state he describes.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 30:7
Two things - The limitation of man’s desires follows naturally upon his consciousness of the limits of his knowledge.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 30:7
7, 8. These verses contain a direct address to God, although he is not named till towards the close of the prayer.
Sermons on Proverbs 30:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Through the Needle's Eye) 6 - the Deceitfulness of Riches by David Servant | David Servant preaches on the parable of the sower from Mark 4:3-10, 13-20, emphasizing the dangers of materialism and the deception of riches that can hinder believers from bearin |
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(Pdf Book) My All for Him / 5 Chapters by Basilea Schlink | Basilea Schlink emphasizes the necessity of 'first love' for Jesus, which is crucial for enduring the trials of our time. This love, akin to 'bridal love,' is a powerful force that |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 16:1 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for Jesus Christ in a fallen world. He emphasizes the need for young adults to abstain from the immoralit |
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(Pure Testimony) Changing Our Way of Thinking by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of guarding our minds and being careful about what we watch on television. He warns that even a few seconds of exposure to ina |
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Jacob Generation - Slovakia Conference 2003 (Slovakian/english) by Gary Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of different aspects of Christian ministry. He first talks about world missions and the desperate need for God in various place |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 28:16 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the dream of Nebuchadnezzar as recorded in the book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a great image with different materials |
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How to Live a Separated Life: Be Diligent by Hoseah Wu | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of lacking an aggressive spirit in pursuing the Lord. He emphasizes the need to work diligently and ensure that our faith is genuine |