Proverbs 30:25-26
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text calls ants a "people," which highlights their incredible community and organization. This isn't just about instinct; it's about a whole society, incredibly small and seemingly weak, yet unified and driven to prepare for the future.
the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes from a section where Agur, the author, reflects on the wisdom found in nature, contrasting it with human folly. He's just discussed four things that are too wonderful for him to comprehend, and now he's turning to the humble ant as a model of preparation and foresight, particularly as a lesson against laziness. This example is part of a series of observations from the natural world designed to highlight God’s wisdom and challenge the reader’s own behavior.
Why does the Bible call ants a 'people'? It's not just about numbers; it highlights their incredible community and organized action.
More Than Just Insects
The text calls ants a "people," a term often used for humans or even nations (like locusts in Joel 1:6). This isn't just poetic language. It points to the ants' remarkable ability to live and work together in a structured, almost societal way.
Organized Effort
Think about it: ants have leaders, they follow rules, and their collective actions are incredibly coordinated. This shared purpose and disciplined effort, even without human-level intelligence, is what earns them the title "people" in Scripture. It’s a testament to how God can imbue even the smallest creatures with a sense of community and purpose.
These tiny ants don't just work hard; they work smart. What can their summer labor teach us about our own future?
The Wisdom of Preparation
The core message here is about foresight and diligent preparation. While modern science debates the exact function of ant stores, the ancient observation — and the Bible's point — remains: ants gather and store food during the productive summer months.
Practical Application
Ask a follow-up
This is a powerful illustration for us. Just as ants prepare for leaner times by working when resources are abundant, we are called to be wise stewards of our time, resources, and talents. This isn't just about physical needs; it's about spiritual and emotional readiness too. Are we investing in our relationships, our faith, and our well-being when life is good, so we are prepared for challenges?
Understand the original words
am · Hebrew Noun
A collective term used to describe a social group, nation, or species; applied here to animals to highlight their organized, cooperative community structure.
shaphan · Hebrew Noun
Small, herbivorous, rabbit-sized mammals known for their agility and reliance on rocky habitats for safety, often used in scripture to illustrate wisdom found in the lowly or vulnerable.
atsum · Hebrew Adjective
Possessing power, strength, or influence; in a biblical context, it often refers to physical prowess or political/military authority.
This passage directly references the ant as a model for the sluggard, highlighting its diligence and foresight in preparing food, just as Proverbs 30:25 does.
Joel 1:6This verse also uses the imagery of insects, describing locusts as a 'nation,' paralleling Proverbs' use of 'people' for ants to emphasize their organized, collective action despite their individual weakness.
Matthew 6:26Jesus points to the birds of the air, which do not sow or reap, but are fed by the Father, offering a divine perspective on provision that contrasts with the ant's self-sufficient labor.
Philippians 4:11-12Paul speaks of learning to be content in any circumstance, illustrating a spiritual preparedness and resilience that echoes the ant's practical preparedness for the future, but on a much deeper, soul-level.
pooleProverbs 30:25: "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"
People; which title is oft given to the unreasonable creatures, both in Scripture, as Joel 1:6 2:2 , and in Homer, and Virgil, and divers other authors. They prepare their meat in the summer; of which See Poole "Proverbs 30:6" , See Poole "Proverbs 30:7" , See Poole "Proverbs 30:8" .
pulpitProverbs 30:25: "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"
Verse 25. - The ants are a people not strong. The ant is proposed as an example to the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6, etc.). He calls the ants a people, am, because they live in a community, and have authorities which they obey, and their actions are regulated by certain definite laws. So Joel (Joel 1:6) calls the locusts a nation, and Homer ('Iliad,' 2:87) speaks of ἔθνεα μελισσάων ἀδινάων, "the tribes of t…
The text calls ants a "people," which highlights their incredible community and organization. This isn't just about instinct; it's about a whole society, incredibly small and seemingly weak, yet unified and driven to prepare for the future.
This passage comes from a section where Agur, the author, reflects on the wisdom found in nature, contrasting it with human folly. He's just discussed four things that are too wonderful for him to comprehend, and now he's turning to the humble ant as a model of preparation and foresight, particularly as a lesson against laziness. This example is part of a series of observations from the natural world designed to highlight God’s wisdom and challenge the reader’s own behavior.
This passage comes from a section where Agur, the author, reflects on the wisdom found in nature, contrasting it with human folly. He's just discussed four things that are too wonderful for him to comprehend, and now he's turning to the humble ant as a model of preparation and foresight, particularly as a lesson against laziness. This example is part of a series of observations from the natural world designed to highlight God’s wisdom and challenge the reader’s own behavior.
"the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs;" — The text calls ants a "people," which highlights their incredible community and organization. This isn't just about instinct; it's about a whole society, incredibly small and seemingly weak, yet unif…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
