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Proverbs 30:15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, 'Enough!':
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Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/30.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied— no, four that never say, “Enough!”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/30.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/30.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/30.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The horseleach hath two daughters, <i>crying</i>, Give, give. There are three <i>things that</i> are never satisfied, <i>yea</i>, four <i>things</i> say not, <i>It is</i> enough:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/30.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters— Give <i>and</i> Give! There are three <i>things that</i> are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/30.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: “Give” <i>and</i> “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/30.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough":<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/30.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/30.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/30.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters, “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, Four that do not say, “It is enough”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/30.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give! ” Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough! ”:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/30.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give!” Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!": <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/30.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, Yea, four that say not, Enough:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/30.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Greed has twins, each named "Give me!" There are three or four things that are never satisfied: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/30.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The horseleach hath two daughters, Crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that say not, Enough:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/30.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The bloodsucking leech has two daughters- "Give!" and "Give!" Three things are never satisfied. Four never say, "Enough!":<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/30.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />A leech has two daughters, and both are named "Give me!" There are four things that are never satisfied: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/30.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: "Give" and "Give". Three things will never be satisfied; four will never say "Enough"—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/30.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "Enough"--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/30.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, 'Enough:'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/30.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough:<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/30.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/30.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’: <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/30.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />To the leech [are] two daughters—Give! Give! Behold, three things are not satisfied, "" Four have not said “Sufficiency”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/30.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> To the leech are two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/30.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />To the leech two daughters: Give, give. Behold, three shall not satisfied; four shall not say, Wealth:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/30.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/30.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters, who say, ‘Bring, bring.’ Three things are insatiable, and a fourth never says ‘Enough’:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/30.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters: “Give,” and “Give.” Three things never get their fill, four never say, “Enough!” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/30.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The leech has two daughters; “Give, give,” they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/30.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A gluttonous man has three beloved daughters. There are three things that are never satisfied; yea, a fourth that never says, It is enough:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/30.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Three leeches have three beloved daughters that are not full, and a fourth does not say, "It is enough":<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/30.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The horseleech hath two daughters: 'Give, give.' There are three things that are never satisfied, Yea, four that say not: 'Enough' :<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/30.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/30-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=6261" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/30.htm">The Words of Agur</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5936.htm" title="5936: la·‘ă·lū·qāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- A leech. Feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to suck; the leech.">The leech</a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·tê (Number-fdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">has two</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ḇā·nō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">daughters:</a> <a href="/hebrew/3051.htm" title="3051: haḇ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To give. A primitive root; to give; generally, to put; imperatively come.">Give</a> <a href="/hebrew/3051.htm" title="3051: haḇ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To give. A primitive root; to give; generally, to put; imperatively come.">and Give.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2007.htm" title="2007: hên·nāh (Pro-3fp) -- They. Prolongation for hen; themselves.">There</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šā·lō·wōš (Number-fs) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">are three</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">things that are never</a> <a href="/hebrew/7646.htm" title="7646: ṯiś·ba‘·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To be sated, satisfied or surfeited. Or sabeay; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. Fill to satisfaction.">satisfied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/702.htm" title="702: ’ar·ba‘ (Number-fs) -- Four. Masculine oarbaah; from raba'; four.">four that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">never</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mə·rū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1952.htm" title="1952: hō·wn (N-ms) -- Wealth, sufficiency. From the same as huwn in the sense of 'own; wealth; by implication, enough.">‘Enough!’:</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-2.htm">James 4:2-3</a></span><br />You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. / And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/5-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:10</a></span><br />He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a></span><br />Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/56-11.htm">Isaiah 56:11</a></span><br />Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-15.htm">Luke 12:15</a></span><br />And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-5.htm">Habakkuk 2:5</a></span><br />and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-14.htm">2 Peter 2:14</a></span><br />Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/2-2.htm">Micah 2:2</a></span><br />They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a></span><br />No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-16.htm">1 John 2:16</a></span><br />For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-13.htm">Jeremiah 6:13</a></span><br />“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/3-19.htm">Philippians 3:19</a></span><br />Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-28.htm">Ezekiel 16:28-29</a></span><br />Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied. / So you extended your promiscuity to Chaldea, the land of merchants—but even with this you were not satisfied!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-21.htm">Mark 7:21-23</a></span><br />For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/73-25.htm">Psalm 73:25</a></span><br />Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The horse leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough:</p><p class="hdg">the horseleach</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3</a></b></br> But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/16-44.htm">Ezekiel 16:44-46</a></b></br> Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use <i>this</i> proverb against thee, saying, As <i>is</i> the mother, <i>so is</i> her daughter… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/23-32.htm">Matthew 23:32</a></b></br> Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.</p><p class="hdg">give</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/56-11.htm">Isaiah 56:11,12</a></b></br> Yea, <i>they are</i> greedy dogs <i>which</i> can never have enough, and they <i>are</i> shepherds <i>that</i> cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/4-18.htm">Hosea 4:18</a></b></br> Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers <i>with</i> shame do love, Give ye.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/7-3.htm">Micah 7:3</a></b></br> That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge <i>asketh</i> for a reward; and the great <i>man</i>, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.</p><p class="hdg">there</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/30-21.htm">Proverbs 30:21,24,29</a></b></br> For three <i>things</i> the earth is disquieted, and for four <i>which</i> it cannot bear: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/6-16.htm">Proverbs 6:16</a></b></br> These six <i>things</i> doth the LORD hate: yea, seven <i>are</i> an abomination unto him:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/1-3.htm">Amos 1:3,6,9,11,13</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away <i>the punishment</i> thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: … </p><p class="hdg">it is enough </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/21-13.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-18.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/psalms/144-12.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-8.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/job/42-16.htm">Four</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-13.htm">Full</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-14.htm">Night-Spirit</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-19.htm">Satisfied</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-27.htm">Sufficiency</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-20.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-17.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-21.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-29.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-16.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Four</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-22.htm">Full</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-14.htm">Night-Spirit</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-16.htm">Satisfied</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-16.htm">Sufficiency</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 30</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-1.htm">Agur's confession of his faith</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-7.htm">The two points of his prayer</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-10.htm">The meanest are not to be wronged</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Four wicked generations</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-15.htm">Four things insatiable</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-24.htm">four things exceeding wise</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-29.htm">Four things stately</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/30-32.htm">Wrath is to be prevented</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The imagery of the leech having "two daughters" named "Give and Give" emphasizes the relentless and unending demand for more. This reflects a broader biblical theme of warning against greed and covetousness, as seen in <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:10</a>, which states that those who love money will never be satisfied. The repetition of "Give" underscores the idea of perpetual dissatisfaction and the destructive nature of unchecked desires.<p><b>There are three things that are never satisfied,</b><br>The use of numerical sayings, such as "three things," is a common literary device in Hebrew wisdom literature, designed to capture attention and emphasize the completeness or intensity of the list. This structure is also found in other parts of Proverbs (e.g., <a href="/proverbs/6-16.htm">Proverbs 6:16-19</a>) and serves to highlight the insatiable nature of certain elements in life. The number three often signifies completeness or divine perfection in the Bible, suggesting that these examples are comprehensive in illustrating the concept of insatiability.<p><b>four that never say, ‘Enough!’:</b><br>The progression from three to four items is a poetic technique that adds emphasis and weight to the list. The number four can symbolize universality or totality, indicating that the examples given are representative of a broader truth about human nature and the world. This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative of contentment and the dangers of excess, as seen in <a href="/philippians/4-11.htm">Philippians 4:11-13</a>, where Paul speaks of learning to be content in all circumstances. The concept of never saying "Enough" warns against the futility of seeking fulfillment in worldly desires, pointing instead to the sufficiency found in God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_leech.htm">The Leech</a></b><br>A parasitic creature known for its insatiable appetite for blood. In this proverb, it symbolizes greed and the never-ending desire for more.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/daughters_of_the_leech.htm">Daughters of the Leech</a></b><br>Metaphorically referred to as "Give and Give," representing the relentless demands of greed and consumption.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/agur.htm">Agur</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/proverbs/30.htm">Proverbs 30</a>, who is credited with these sayings. Agur's observations provide wisdom on human nature and the world.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wise_sayings.htm">The Wise Sayings</a></b><br>Proverbs 30 is part of the collection of wise sayings attributed to Agur, offering insights into human behavior and divine wisdom.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_greed.htm">Understanding Greed</a></b><br>Greed is like a leech, always demanding more and never satisfied. Recognize the areas in your life where you may be saying "Give and Give" and seek contentment in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_insatiability.htm">The Danger of Insatiability</a></b><br>Just as the leech's daughters never say "Enough," unchecked desires can lead to destructive behaviors. Reflect on how you can cultivate a spirit of gratitude and sufficiency.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_christ.htm">Contentment in Christ</a></b><br>True satisfaction comes from a relationship with God, not from material possessions. Focus on spiritual growth and the riches of God's grace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Regularly assess your desires and motivations. Are they aligned with God's will, or are they driven by a never-ending quest for more?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/generosity_as_a_remedy.htm">Generosity as a Remedy</a></b><br>Combat greed by practicing generosity. Giving to others can help break the cycle of insatiability and reflect God's love.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_30.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 30</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_scientific_proof_for_proverbs_30_15-16.htm">Proverbs 30:15–16 personifies a leech and lists things never satisfied; what evidence supports or refutes these claims scientifically? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_gently_restore_a_sinning_brother.htm">What insatiable desires are never satisfied?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/which_desires_are_never_satisfied.htm">What insatiable desires are never satisfied?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_vow_laws_in_ancient_israel.htm">Numbers 30 portrays women's vows as contingent on male approval. Where is the historical or archeological evidence that such laws were regularly enforced in ancient Israel?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/30.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.--</span>The word "crying" is not in the Hebrew. The leech is here chosen as the emblem of insatiable greed; if it could speak, its "daughters," <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the words it would utter, would be "Give, give." So it forms an introduction to the quartette of "insatiable things" which follow.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/30.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 15, 16.</span> - Having spoken of insatiate cupidity, the writer now introduces four things which are insatiable. The form of the apothegm is climacteric, mounting from two to three, and thence to four, like the famous passage in <a href="/amos/1-3.htm">Amos 1:3</a>, etc. (comp. <a href="/proverbs/6-16.htm">Proverbs 6:16</a>, though there is no special stress there laid on the last member of the climax; <a href="/job/5-19.htm">Job 5:19</a>; <a href="/job/33-29.htm">Job 33:29</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 11:2</a>). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.</span> The word "crying" is not in the Hebrew, which says, "The <span class="accented">alukah</span> hath two daughters: Give! Give!" The insatiable appetite of this creature is represented by two words, which are personified as daughters, whom the mother has produced and dearly loves. This word <span class="accented">alukah</span> is not found again in the Old Testament; but in later Hebrew and in Aramaic it means "leech" or "bloodsucker;" and so it is translated by the Septuagint, <span class="greek">βδέλλα</span>, and by St. Jerome <span class="accented">sanguisuga</span>. The word is derived from a root which in Arabic means "to adhere." There are several kinds of leeches common in Palestine, and their bloodthirsty nature is well known; as Horace says, 'Ars Poet.,' 476 - <p><span class="foreign">"Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris, hirudo."</span> It seems simple and quite satisfactory to accept the word thus, and to see in the voracity of the leech an example of the greed further developed in the following clauses; but commentators have not been contented with this explanation, and have offered various suggestions which are either unnecessary or inadmissible. Thus the Talmud considers <span class="accented">alukah</span> to be an appellation of hell, and the two daughters to be the Power of the world, and Heresy. Some of the Fathers regard it as a symbol of the devil and his dominion; others, as a personification of cupidity with its two offshoots avarice and ambition. Some moderns deem it to mean a vampire or blood thirsty demon, a ghoul, in accordance with Eastern myth. But, as we have said, such interpretations are unnecessary and unsupported by sufficient authority. The allusion to the tastes of the leech is found elsewhere. Thus Theocritus, 'Idyll.,' 2:55 - <p><span class="greek">Αι} αι} ἔρως ἀνιαρέ τί μευ μέλαν ἐκ χροὸς αἵμα</span><br /><span class="greek">Ἐμφὺς ὡς λιμνᾶτις ἅπαν ἐκ βδέλλα πέπωκας</span> And Plautus, 'Epidic.,' 2:2, 5 - <p><span class="foreign">"Jam ego me convortam in hirudinem atque<br />Eorum exsugebo sanguinem,<br />Senati qui columen cluent."</span> Ewald and others find traces of mutilation in this proverb, and endeavour to supply what is lost in various ways; but the text as it stands is intelligible, and needs no addition. The rest of the verse is an application of the truth first stated. The type of cupidity there enunciated is instanced and exemplified in four special cases. <span class="cmt_word">There are three things that are never satisfied.</span> And then a corrective climax is addressed. Yea, <span class="cmt_word">four things say not, It is enough.</span> The four in the following verse are divided into two plus two. Septuagint, "The leech had three daughters dearly beloved, and these three did not satisfy her, and the fourth was not contented to say, Enough." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/30-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The leech</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽעֲלוּקָ֨ה ׀</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·lū·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5936.htm">Strong's 5936: </a> </span><span class="str2">The leech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has two</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁתֵּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(šə·tê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - fdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">daughters:</span><br /><span class="heb">בָנוֹת֮</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Give</span><br /><span class="heb">הַ֤ב ׀</span> <span class="translit">(haḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3051.htm">Strong's 3051: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, to put, imperatively, come</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] Give.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַ֥ב</span> <span class="translit">(haḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3051.htm">Strong's 3051: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, to put, imperatively, come</span><br /><br /><span class="word">There</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵ֭נָּה</span> <span class="translit">(hên·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2007.htm">Strong's 2007: </a> </span><span class="str2">Themselves</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are three</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁל֣וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šā·lō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[things that] are never</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">satisfied,</span><br /><span class="heb">תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiś·ba‘·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7646.htm">Strong's 7646: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be sated, satisfied or surfeited</span><br /><br /><span class="word">four [that]</span><br /><span class="heb">אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·ba‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_702.htm">Strong's 702: </a> </span><span class="str2">Four</span><br /><br /><span class="word">never</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">say,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֥מְרוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Enough!”:</span><br /><span class="heb">הֽוֹן׃</span> <span class="translit">(hō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1952.htm">Strong's 1952: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wealth, sufficiency</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/30-15.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 30:15 The leach has two daughters: 'Give give (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/30-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 30:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 30:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/30-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 30:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 30:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>