Proverbs 30:14
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This verse paints a stark picture: it’s not just about being hungry, but about a specific kind of cruelty where people are described as having teeth like swords and fangs like knives. This imagery emphasizes how these oppressors don't just take resources, but they "devour" the poor, literally consuming their existence until they are no more.
There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Agur is listing different kinds of people and behaviors he finds detestable, moving from the arrogant and proud to those who exploit the vulnerable. This verse describes a particularly cruel "generation" whose greed and oppression are so brutal they effectively consume the poor, leaving them no sustenance or even existence. This grim picture sets the stage for the final, seemingly contradictory, group Agur describes in the next verses.
Some people are described with imagery so violent, it's startling. What does this brutal metaphor reveal about their actions?
This verse paints a terrifying picture of a specific kind of person: one who is ruthlessly cruel and oppressive. The imagery of 'teeth as swords' and 'jaw teeth as knives' isn't just about sharp teeth; it's about a predatory nature. These individuals, driven by insatiable greed, use their power—whether economic, social, or political—to inflict deep wounds. They don't just take; they 'devour,' aiming to completely destroy the poor and needy, leaving them with nothing and pushing them out of existence. This is the language of utter destruction, highlighting the extreme and inhumane nature of their exploitation.
What fuels the destructive drive of those who prey on the vulnerable?
The core issue here is 'insatiable cupidity'—a greed that can never be satisfied. This verse identifies a generation characterized by this relentless desire for more, a hunger that has no limits. It's this unchecked greed that transforms people into predators. Their actions aren't accidental; they are the direct result of a heart that is fixated on acquiring wealth and possessions at any cost. This consuming desire makes them as merciless as the sharpest weapons, willing to inflict the ultimate damage to satisfy their craving, leaving their victims utterly ruined.
Understand the original words
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chereb · Hebrew Noun
Sharp tools used for cutting or killing; used metaphorically to describe the destructive and harmful nature of a person's words or actions toward others.
akal · Hebrew Verb
To eat greedily or consume; used figuratively to describe the ruthless exploitation of the vulnerable by the powerful.
ani · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who lack material wealth or resources; throughout the Wisdom literature, they are identified as objects of God’s special concern and protectors of justice.
ebyon · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
One who is in want or lacking; a vulnerable person who relies on others or on God for assistance and relief.
This Psalm uses similar imagery of sharp weapons for teeth and tongues, directly paralleling the violent, destructive nature of those who prey on others described in Proverbs.
Amos 8:4Amos directly calls out those who 'swallow up the needy' and 'make the poor of the land fail,' echoing the predatory and destructive actions depicted in Proverbs 30:14.
Luke 11:53-54Jesus confronts the religious leaders, accusing them of 'lying in wait' and seeking to trap Him, highlighting how those in positions of power can use their influence to harm and destroy others, much like the oppressors in Proverbs.
1 John 3:17This passage challenges believers to love with actions and truth, contrasting it with those who hoard resources and refuse to help the needy, thus implicitly condemning the oppressive behavior described in Proverbs.
pooleProverbs 30:14: "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."
Extortioners, and cruel oppressors, who grind the faces of the poor.
clarkeProverbs 30:14: "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."
The fourth, The greedy, cruel, and oppressive, and, especially, oppressive to the poor.
This verse paints a stark picture: it’s not just about being hungry, but about a specific kind of cruelty where people are described as having teeth like swords and fangs like knives. This imagery emphasizes how these oppressors don't just take resources, but they "devour" the poor, literally consuming their existence until they are no more.
Agur is listing different kinds of people and behaviors he finds detestable, moving from the arrogant and proud to those who exploit the vulnerable. This verse describes a particularly cruel "generation" whose greed and oppression are so brutal they effectively consume the poor, leaving them no sustenance or even existence. This grim picture sets the stage for the final, seemingly contradictory, group Agur describes in the next verses.
Agur is listing different kinds of people and behaviors he finds detestable, moving from the arrogant and proud to those who exploit the vulnerable. This verse describes a particularly cruel "generation" whose greed and oppression are so brutal they effectively consume the poor, leaving them no sustenance or even existence. This grim picture sets the stage for the final, seemingly contradictory, group Agur describes in the next verses.
"There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind." — This verse paints a stark picture: it’s not just about being hungry, but about a specific kind of cruelty where people are described as having teeth like swords and fangs like knives. This imagery em…
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Last reviewed October 2026
