Proverbs 30:20"So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~700 BC. A wise man named Agur observes human nature in Jerusalem's streets...
The emotion here: disgusted by human shamelessness
The original word
nā'ap (נָאַף) — to commit adultery, break covenant faithfulness
Why it matters
This is from the sayings of Agur, one of only two non-Israelite wisdom teachers quoted in Proverbs
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 30:20
The 'eating and wiping' is a metaphor — treating sin as casually as a meal
Common misconceptionPeople think this is only about sexual adultery, but Agur is describing anyone who sins without shame — politicians, business leaders, even church members who hurt others and act innocent.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 30:20
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 30:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 30:20 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Agur. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include adultery, deception, callousness. Notable phrases: adulterous woman; done nothing wrong.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 30:20 mean to you, today?
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