Proverbs 30:9lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Agur has observed how prosperity makes people forget God, and desperation makes people compromise. Writing his observations in what is now Israel/Palestine.
The emotion here: fearful of his own potential for sin
The original word
kāḥaš (כָּחַשׁ) — to deny, disown, or act as if someone doesn't exist
Why it matters
In ancient Israel, theft carried severe penalties including slavery to repay debts
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 30:9
Both wealth and poverty lead to the same sin — forgetting that God provides
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about literal poverty and wealth, but it's about how financial extremes distort our relationship with God — the rich act like they don't need Him, the poor act like He doesn't care.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 30:9
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 30:9 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 30:9 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 deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include temptation, integrity, God's name. Notable phrases: lest I be full deny you; lest I be poor and steal; dishonor the name of my God. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 30:9 mean to you, today?
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