Proverbs 30:12
Proverbs 30:12 in Multiple Translations
There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways.
There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.
A generation — pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
Some people think that they are perfect, but really they have never been cleansed from their guilt for committing disgusting sins.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 30:12
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 30:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
דּ֭וֹר
טָה֣וֹר
בְּ/עֵינָ֑י/ו
וּ֝/מִ/צֹּאָת֗/וֹ
לֹ֣א
רֻחָֽץ
דּ֭וֹר
dôwr
H1755
generation
N-ms
טָה֣וֹר
ṭâhôwr
H2889
pure
Adj
בְּ/עֵינָ֑י/ו
ʻayin
H5869
eye
Prep | N-cd | Suff
וּ֝/מִ/צֹּאָת֗/וֹ
tsôwʼâh
H6675
filth
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
רֻחָֽץ
râchats
H7364
to wash
V-Pual-Perf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 30:12
דּ֭וֹר
dôwr
H1755
"generation"
N-ms
This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.
Definition: 1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling 1a) period, age, generation (period of time) 1b) generation (those living during a period) 1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men) 1d) dwelling-place, habitation Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)
Usage: Occurs in 127 OT verses. KJV: age, [idiom] evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity. See also: Genesis 6:9; Esther 9:28; Psalms 10:6.
טָה֣וֹר
ṭâhôwr
H2889
"pure"
Adj
Tahor means pure or clean, and can refer to physical, moral, or ceremonial purity. In the Bible, it describes clean animals and morally upright people. It is often used to describe something as fair or pure.
Definition: 1) pure, clean 1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals) 1b) pure (physically) 1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)
Usage: Occurs in 86 OT verses. KJV: clean, fair, pure(-ness). See also: Genesis 7:2; Leviticus 13:40; Psalms 12:7.
בְּ/עֵינָ֑י/ו
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
Prep | N-cd | Suff
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 828 OT verses. KJV: affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). See also: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 28:67.
וּ֝/מִ/צֹּאָת֗/וֹ
tsôwʼâh
H6675
"filth"
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
This noun refers to filth, excrement, or dirt, and can also be used figuratively to describe moral pollution. It is often used to emphasize the need for cleanliness and purity in the Bible.
Definition: filth, excrement
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: dung, filth(-iness). Marg. for H2716 (חֶרֶא). See also: 2 Kings 18:27; Isaiah 4:4; Proverbs 30:12.
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
רֻחָֽץ
râchats
H7364
"to wash"
V-Pual-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for washing or bathing, used in Exodus 30:19 where priests had to wash their hands and feet before entering the temple. It means to clean or purify oneself, as seen in 2 Kings 5:10 where Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the Jordan River.
Definition: : wash 1) to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wash, wash off, wash away 1a2) to wash, bathe (oneself) 1b) (Pual) to be washed 1c) (Hithpael) to wash oneself 2a) (Hithpael Passive) to be regarded clean, trustworthy
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: bathe (self), wash (self). See also: Genesis 18:4; Leviticus 16:4; Psalms 26:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 30:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 30:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 30:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 30:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 30:12
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 30:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
- Sermons on Proverbs 30:12
Context — The Words of Agur
10Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances— 14there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 18:11 | The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. |
| 2 | Proverbs 16:2 | All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD. |
| 3 | 2 Timothy 3:5 | having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! |
| 4 | Jeremiah 2:35 | you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ |
| 5 | Proverbs 21:2 | All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. |
| 6 | 1 John 1:7–10 | But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. |
| 7 | Titus 3:5 | He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 36:25 | I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. |
| 9 | Isaiah 65:5 | They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. |
| 10 | Luke 16:15 | So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God. |
Proverbs 30:12 Summary
[This verse is talking about people who think they are good and pure, but really they are not. They have sins and mistakes that they have not acknowledged or asked for forgiveness for, like the Bible says in Psalm 51:7. It's like they are dirty on the inside, but they think they look clean on the outside, similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:27. We need to make sure we are not like this, and instead ask God to show us our sins and forgive us, as 1 John 1:9 teaches.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'pure in their own eyes'?
This phrase suggests that some people have a self-deceived view of their own righteousness, similar to the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 who prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men.' They may think they are morally upright, but in reality, they are 'unwashed of their filth', indicating a need for true spiritual cleansing as described in Psalm 51:7.
How can someone be unwashed of their filth if they appear pure?
This verse highlights the difference between outward appearance and inward reality, as Jesus taught in Matthew 23:27, where He condemned the Pharisees for being like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead men's bones on the inside.
Is this verse talking about a specific group of people or a general attitude?
The phrase 'there is a generation' suggests that the Bible is describing a type of people or a mindset that can be found across different times and places, characterized by self-deception and a lack of true spiritual purity, as warned against in Proverbs 16:2.
What is the significance of being 'unwashed of their filth'?
This phrase implies a deep-seated moral and spiritual corruption that has not been addressed or cleansed, which can only be truly washed away through faith in Jesus Christ, as taught in 1 John 1:9 and Titus 3:5.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways might I be deceiving myself about my own righteousness, and how can I cultivate a more honest and humble assessment of my spiritual state?
- How can I distinguish between outward appearances of purity and true inner righteousness, both in myself and in others?
- What are some common 'filths' or sins that people often fail to recognize or address in their own lives, and how can I guard against these in my own walk with God?
- What role does self-reflection and repentance play in becoming truly 'washed' and purified, and how can I prioritize these practices in my daily life?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 30:12
[There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes,.... Not in the eyes of God, who sees the heart, and all the impurities of it, as well as of life and conversation; nor in the eyes of
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 30:12
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
Who not only pretend to others, but conceit within themselves, that they are truly religious persons, when they live in the course of wickedness.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
Proverbs 30:12 [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.Ver. 12. There is a generation that are pure, &c.] As the ancient Puritans, the Novatians, Donatists, Catharists, Illuminates. Non habeo, Domine, cui ignoscas, said one justiciary: I have done nothing, Lord, that needs thy pardon. "Ye are those that justify yourselves," saith Christ to the Pharisees. "All these things have I done from my youth; what want I yet?" said one of them that far overweaned his own worth, and rated himself above the market. "In all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me," saith guilty Ephraim; "that were sin," that were a foul business to find iniquity in Ephraim, whose iniquities were (yet) grown over his head, as appears throughout that whole prophecy. That man of sin, the Pope, will needs be held sinless, and sundry of his votaries say they can supererogate. And are there not among us, even among us, such sinners before the Lord, that stand upon their pantofles, and proudly ask, Who can say, black is their eye? There is a generation of these, that is, a continual succession of them. Such dust-heaps you may find in every corner.
And yet is not washed from their filthiness.] Either "of flesh or spirit"; they wallow in sin like swine, and welter in wickedness, which is filth and blood, the vomit of a dog, the excrement of the devil, the superfluity or garbage of naughtiness, and the stinking filth of a pestilent ulcer, as the Greek words used by St James, do signify. The whole world lieth in wickedness, as a lubber in a lake, as a carcase in its slime. Nil mundum in mundo; and yet who so forward to boast of their good hearts to Godward? περισσεια, ρυπαρια.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
Verse 12. The second, Those who were self-righteous, supposing themselves pure, and were not so.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 30:12
11–14. Four generations, or classes of men that are detestable.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 30:12
The Pharisee temper (compare the marginal reference).
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 30:12
11-14. The four classes here mentioned Agur assumes will at once be disapproved. To describe them is enough. They need no formal condemnation. Generation — Race, class. Doth not bless — Does not respect or speak well of.
Sermons on Proverbs 30:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Heir of Heaven Walking in Darkness, and the Heir of Hell Walking in Light by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the contrast between the heir of heaven who fears the Lord, obeys His voice, and walks in darkness, and the heirs of hell who kindle a false fire, surro |
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A Confessing Sinner, and a Forgiving God by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the importance of acknowledging our sinful nature and the impossibility of achieving perfection in ourselves. He emphasizes that true perfection is foun |
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Wallowed in Sin Like Swine in the Mire by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the danger of self-deception in his sermon 'Wallowed in Sin Like Swine in the Mire,' warning that many people consider themselves pure while being deeply e |
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Contrasting Results for Self-Exaltation and Humility by Bob Hoekstra | Bob Hoekstra preaches on the importance of humility and the dangers of self-righteousness, as illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The message emphasiz |
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The Physician! by James Smith | James Smith preaches about Jesus as the compassionate physician for sin-sick souls, emphasizing that those who recognize their spiritual sickness and need for healing are the ones |
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Unpardonable Sin by William P. Nicholson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the fact that preaching the gospel is a serious matter because it deals with the eternal destiny of human beings. He shares a story from the |
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The Walls Are Down for America and Canada (Conference Call) by Edgar Reich | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of how people, particularly men, are consumed by worldly distractions such as television, jobs, and material possessions. He acknowl |