New International VersionFor as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
New Living TranslationAs the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
English Standard VersionFor pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
Berean Standard BibleFor as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
King James BibleSurely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
New King James VersionFor as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.
New American Standard BibleFor the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose produces blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.
NASB 1995For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.
NASB 1977For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.
Legacy Standard BibleFor pressing milk brings forth butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; And pressing anger brings forth strife.
Amplified BibleSurely the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.
Christian Standard BibleFor the churning of milk produces butter, and twisting a nose draws blood, and stirring up anger produces strife.
Holman Christian Standard BibleFor the churning of milk produces butter, and twisting a nose draws blood, and stirring up anger produces strife.
American Standard VersionFor the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Contemporary English VersionIf you churn milk you get butter; if you pound on your nose, you get blood--and if you stay angry, you get in trouble.
English Revised VersionFor the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAs churning milk produces butter and punching a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.
Good News TranslationIf you churn milk, you get butter. If you hit someone's nose, it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble.
International Standard VersionJust as whipping milk produces butter, and twisting the nose causes bleeding, so also stirring up anger produces contention.
NET BibleFor as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
New Heart English BibleFor as the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."
Webster's Bible TranslationSurely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
World English BibleFor as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor the churning of milk brings out butter, "" And the wringing of the nose brings out blood, "" And the forcing of anger brings out strife!
Young's Literal Translation For the churning of milk bringeth out butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth out blood, And the forcing of anger bringeth out strife!
Smith's Literal TranslationFor the pressure of milk will bring forth cheese, and the pressure of the nose will bring forth blood: and the pressure of wrath will, bring forth contention. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he that strongly squeezeth the papa to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath bringeth forth strife.
Catholic Public Domain VersionBut whoever strongly squeezes the udder to bring out the milk, presses out butter. And whoever violently blows his nose, brings out blood. And whoever provokes wrath, brings forth discord.”
New American BibleFor as the churning of milk produces curds, and the pressing of the nose produces blood, the churning of anger produces strife.
New Revised Standard VersionFor as pressing milk produces curds, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing anger produces strife. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOut of the richness of the milk comes forth butter; and if you press your hand on a raw grain of wheat, it will bring forth juices; thus out of the strife goes forth judgment.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedFrom the fat of the milk butter comes forth, but if you squeeze your hand upon wheat, blood will come forth, so from contention among people judgment goes forth. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For the churning of milk bringeth forth curd, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationMilk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one's nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Words of Agur… 32If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth. 33Foras the churningof milkyieldsbutter,and the twistingof the nosedrawsblood,so the stirringof angerbrings forthstrife.”
Cross References James 1:20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
Matthew 5:22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Ephesians 4:31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
Galatians 5:19-21The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Colossians 3:8But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Genesis 4:5-8but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. / “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? / If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” ...
1 John 3:12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
Ecclesiastes 7:9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
Romans 12:19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
1 Samuel 20:30-34Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? / For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” / “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” ...
2 Kings 5:11-12But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. / Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
Psalm 37:8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
Isaiah 57:20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.
2 Timothy 2:23-24But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. / And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
Exodus 32:19As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.
Treasury of Scripture Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife. Jump to Previous AngerBloodButterCauseChurningCurdCurdsFightingForcingForthMakesMilkNosePressingProducesShakingStirringStrifeSurelyTwistingWrathJump to Next AngerBloodButterCauseChurningCurdCurdsFightingForcingForthMakesMilkNosePressingProducesShakingStirringStrifeSurelyTwistingWrathProverbs 30 1.Agur's confession of his faith7.The two points of his prayer10.The meanest are not to be wronged11.Four wicked generations15.Four things insatiable24.four things exceeding wise29.Four things stately32.Wrath is to be preventedFor as the churning of milk yields butterThis phrase uses a simple agricultural process familiar to ancient agrarian societies. Churning milk to produce butter was a common practice, illustrating a natural cause-and-effect relationship. The process of churning involves continuous agitation, which transforms the milk into butter, symbolizing how persistent actions lead to inevitable outcomes. This imagery is consistent with other biblical teachings on sowing and reaping, such as Galatians 6:7, which emphasizes that actions have consequences. The metaphor underscores the predictability of certain results from specific actions, a theme prevalent in wisdom literature. and the twisting of the nose draws blood
The imagery here is vivid and physical, illustrating a direct and immediate consequence of a specific action. Twisting the nose is an aggressive act that naturally results in bleeding, much like how certain provocations lead to conflict. This phrase reflects the biblical principle of cause and effect, similar toProverbs 26:17, which warns against meddling in quarrels not one's own. The cultural context of the time would have understood this as a straightforward analogy, emphasizing the inevitability of certain reactions to provocation. so the stirring of anger brings forth strife
This conclusion ties the previous analogies to the emotional and relational realm. Anger, when stirred or provoked, naturally leads to conflict and discord, much like the physical processes described earlier. This aligns with biblical teachings on the dangers of anger, such asJames 1:19-20, which advises believers to be slow to anger. The wisdom literature often warns against the destructive power of anger, as seen inProverbs 15:18, which contrasts a hot-tempered person with one who is patient. The phrase serves as a caution against allowing anger to fester, highlighting the importance of self-control and peacemaking, virtues exemplified by Jesus Christ, who taught and embodied reconciliation and forgiveness. Persons / Places / Events 1. AgurThe author of Proverbs 30, Agur son of Jakeh, is a figure about whom little is known, but he is credited with this collection of wise sayings. 2. Ancient IsraelThe cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, providing insight into the daily life and wisdom traditions of the time. 3. ProverbsA book of the Bible consisting of wise sayings and teachings, often attributed to Solomon, but also including contributions from other wise men like Agur. Teaching Points The Consequences of AngerJust as physical actions like churning milk or twisting a nose have predictable outcomes, so does stirring up anger. It inevitably leads to strife and conflict. Self-Control and WisdomExercising self-control and wisdom in our interactions can prevent unnecessary conflict. Proverbs encourages us to be mindful of our words and actions. The Power of WordsWords can stir up anger or bring peace. As believers, we are called to use our words to build up rather than tear down. Peacemaking as a Christian DutyChristians are called to be peacemakers, reflecting the peace of Christ in their relationships and communities. Reflecting Christ's CharacterIn moments of potential conflict, believers should strive to reflect Christ's character, responding with patience and love rather than anger. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 30
How can we avoid strife and promote peace?
How does envy affect your peace and relationships?
Proverbs 30:7-9 emphasizes neither poverty nor riches; how do we reconcile this with other passages that promise material blessings?
What defines a biblical proverb?(33) Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter. . . .--The same word is used in the Hebrew for the three which appear in the Authorised Version, "churning," "wringing," and "forcing." The sense will be, "For (as) pressure on milk produces butter, and pressure on the nose produces blood, (so) pressure on wrath (violence towards a hot-tempered person) produces anger." (Comp. Proverbs 15:1.) Verse 33. - Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter. The same word, mits, is used for "churning," "wringing," and "forcing;" it means "pressure" in all the cases, though with a different application. At the present day milk is churned in the East by enclosing it in a leathern bottle, which is then suspended in the air and jerked to and fro till the butter is produced. This process could scarcely be called "pressure," though, possibly, the squeezing of the udder is meant, as the Septuagint and Vulgate take it. But most probably the reference is to cheese, the term used, chemah, being applied indifferently to curdled milk and cheese. To produce this substance, the curdled milk is put into little baskets of rush or palm leaves, tied closely, and then pressed under heavy stones. What the proverb says is that, as the pressure applied to milk produces cheese, and as pressure applied to the nose brings blood, so the pressure of wrath bringeth forth strife; the irritation and provocation of anger occasion quarrels and contentions. They say in Malabar, remarks Lane, "Anger is a stone cast into a wasp's nest." Septuagint, "Press out milk, and there shall be butter; and if thou violently squeeze the nostrils, blood will come forth; and if thou draw forth words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes." It is the third clause which is important, and to which the others lead up; and the verse must be taken in connection with the preceding, as enforcing the duty of self-restraint and silence under certain circumstances. Some of the Fathers, commenting on the Vulgate rendering ( Qui fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac, exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit, elicit sanguinem), apply the passage to the handling of the Word of God. Thus St Gregory ('Moral.,' 21:3), "Divine sentences require sometimes to be viewed externally, sometimes to be explored internally. For we 'press the udder strongly' when we weigh with minute understanding the word of sacred revelation, by which way of pressing whilst we seek milk, we find butter, because, whilst we seek to be fed with but a little insight, we are anointed with the abundance of interior richness. Which, nevertheless, we ought neither to do too much, nor at all times, lest, while milk is sought for from the udder, there should follow blood. For very often, persons, whilst they sift the words of sacred revelation more than they ought, fall into a carnal apprehension. For 'he draws forth blood who wringeth violently.' Since that is rendered carnal which is perceived by an overgreat sifting of the spirit" (Oxford transl.).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Forכִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionas the churningמִ֪יץ(mîṣ)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4330:Squeezing, pressing, wringingof milkחָלָ֡ב(ḥā·lāḇ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461:Milkyieldsי֘וֹצִ֤יא(yō·w·ṣî)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximbutter,חֶמְאָ֗ה(ḥem·’āh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2529:Curdled milk, cheeseand the twistingוּֽמִיץ־(ū·mîṣ-)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4330:Squeezing, pressing, wringingof the noseאַ֭ף(’ap̄)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 639:The nose, nostril, the face, a person, iredrawsי֣וֹצִיא(yō·w·ṣî)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximblood,דָ֑ם(ḏām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818:Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshedso the stirringוּמִ֥יץ(ū·mîṣ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4330:Squeezing, pressing, wringingof angerאַ֝פַּ֗יִם(’ap·pa·yim)Noun - md
Strong's 639:The nose, nostril, the face, a person, irebrings forthי֣וֹצִיא(yō·w·ṣî)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximstrife.רִֽיב׃(rîḇ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7379:Strife, dispute
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 30:33 For as the churning of milk brings (Prov. Pro Pr) |
