“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise”

(Pro 30:24-33)

[Study Aired June 25, 2026]

Pro 30:24  There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Pro 30:25  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Pro 30:26  The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Pro 30:27  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Pro 30:28  The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
Pro 30:29  There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
Pro 30:30  A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
Pro 30:31  A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
Pro 30:32  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Pro 30:33  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Last week we looked at the seven things that explain the complete state of a yet immature Christian in verses (Pro 30:19-23), and in this last part of proverbs chapter thirty, we’ll look at the seven things that God gives to those who are being dragged out of that immature state described in (Heb 6:1-3) and into a mature mindset that is needed in order to go on and become the woman who represents the bride of Christ in (Pro 31:1-31).

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;(Joh 8:31-32) not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

To recap the first four points last week found in (Pro 30:19), we learned, “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness” of (Pro 30:20), which represents Mystery Babylon that we are coming out of (2Co 6:17 , Rev 17:5).

Pro 30:19  The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Then we are shown the fruit of this woman described in these last three points made in (Pro 30:21-23) that make up the complete state of our walk (4+3=7) at that time even while we are in Christ, but not yet a mature Christian bringing forth good spiritual fruit, a process only obtained by abiding in Christ (“The words “abide,” “abideth,” or “abide not” appear a total of 9 times in (John 15:1–27, KJV)”.

Pro 30:21  For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
Pro 30:22  For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
Pro 30:23  For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

If we are blessed to continue to abide in Christ, it will lead to the fruit that is going to be described in (Pro 31:1-31). All of this is a miracle of which boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Rom 11:5-22).

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:(Rom 3:27)
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness:(Rom 2:4 , Heb 12:25 , Joh 15:2) otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Pro 30:24  There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

God’s little remnant (Rom 11:5) is “little upon the earth” (Mat 22:14 , Luk 17:26 , Mat 24:37 , Luk 18:8), and “exceeding wise” because of the mind of Christ that has been given to them (1Co 2:16 , 1Co 1:30 , 1Co 2:5).

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The “there be four” things that are “little upon the earth” is speaking of the whole body of Christ, those who consider themselves to be alive in Christ and dead to sin (Rom 6:11), hoping to be raised in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye (1Th 4:16-17 , 1Jn 3:3).

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Pro 30:25  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

The first of the four things mentioned that is exceeding wise in the earth and typifies the elect is “ants” that are likened to “a people not strong” but together “prepare their meat in the summer”. The ant is a symbol of the diligence and unity in the body of Christ (Eph 4:16) which makes it possible to get the work of God done by every joint that supplies in love (Pro 6:6-11).

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Pro 6:6  Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Pro 6:7  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Pro 6:8  Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (Php 2:12-13)
Pro 6:9  How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Pro 6:10  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Pro 6:11  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

We pray that our flight is not in the winter when nothing is growing (Mat 24:20), but rather that God would give us the spiritual increase that comes from Him and is symbolized by the ant preparing “their meat in the summer”. Part of preparing is laying up store for the winter so that we are not left without oil in colder darker times coming upon this earth (Mat 24:12). All this is a work of God that demonstrates His mercy toward the elect who will be made ready by the grace and faith of Christ (Mat 25:4 , Heb 6:3 , Luk 12:32 , Eph 2:8).

Mat 24:20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Pro 30:26  The coniesH8227 are but a feeble folkH3808 H6099, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

Pro 30:26  The rock badgers are not mighty creatures, yet they make their houses in the rock; (AFV)

The second exceeding wise creature mentioned in the earth [the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24)] is “The coniesH8227 are but a feeble folkH3808 H6099, yet make they their houses in the rocks”.

The elect are being likened unto this creature that takes refuge in the rocks, which symbolizes our being hidden in the Lord who is the rock of our salvation (Psa 95:1-2 , Mat 16:18 , Rom 12:5). Notice it is plural “rocks” which infers that we are hidden in Christ together and make up those rocks with His life within us (Heb 10:25 , Job 5:23).

Psa 95:1  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psa 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Job 5:23  For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

Is the cony a rock badger, a rabbit, a guinea pig, I don’t know, there are a lot of theories out there, but for our purpose today it is more important to understand what we can learn from this creature’s behaviour that symbolizes a maturing body of Christ. The “feeble folk” is a reminder that the world’s perception of God’s elect is that we are the weak of the world (1Co 1:26), and yet what is not seen is the strength that is ours through Christ who is our wisdom and strength. We trust in the Lord and hide in Him (Isa 26:21-22 , Psa 32:7), and this is what makes this “feeble folk” exceeding wise in God’s eyes (Joh 6:44).

Isa 26:20  Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Isa 26:21  The LORD will come out to punish everyone on earth for their sins. And when he does, those who did violent crimes will be known and punished.

Psa 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Pro 30:27  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bandsH2686;

There is a positive and negative way of looking at having rulership over us, and in this case locusts that “have no king” is a positive statement that reminds us that we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12-13), and yet because we have the same spirit (1Co 12:4) the same king ruling over each of us in our heavens, we can “yet go they forth all of them by bandsH2686” in harmony, in unison, with the same mind (Php 2:2).

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The bandsH2686 represent arrows or the word of God that the elect hold fast to, not thinking above what is written (1Co 4:6), and that preserves us in our battle against the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph 6:16). God’s word is likened unto children, and an arrow, as seen in these verses (Psa 127:3-5 , 1Sa 20:37)

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Psa 127:5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

1Sa 20:37  And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

“bands”  H2686  châtsats  khaw-tsats’

A primitive root (compare H2673); properly to chop into, pierce or sever; hence to curtail, to distribute (into ranks); as denominative from H2671; to shoot an arrow: – archer, X bands, cut off in the midst.

Total KJV occurrences: 3

These locust are another representation of the exceedingly wise way that God is working within the body of Christ. It reminds me of the centurion who had the faith to see the connectivity of God’s power to all things, and with the faith of Christ came humility and acknowledgement of His greatness and ability to command from afar, although He is not far from any of us (Mat 8:5-13 , Act 17:27-28).

Mat 8:5  And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Mat 8:6  And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Mat 8:7  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Mat 8:8  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10  When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 8:13  And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Pro 30:28  The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

The fourth creature that is likened unto the elect and is exceeding wise, is the “spider”. As always there is a negative and positive use of virtually every word in the bible. The spider is negatively likened unto the churches of Babylon in these verses (Isa 59:5 , Job 8:14) however in this proverb we are looking at the positive use of a spider who is abiding in the “kings’ palaces” which typifies Jerusalem above the mother of us all (Gal 4:26).

We are fishers of men with Christ’s mind (Mat 4:19), and the net that God has given us to construct, is like a web that needs God’s power to bring forth any spiritual productivity, fish in the boat (Joh 21:5-6).

Joh 21:5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Joh 21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Babylon has a web of lies that captures the unconverted simple souls that we are at first, yet being guided by a self-righteous spirit, however if God shows mercy to us in this age we become unentangled from that web through the destruction of that man of perdition who makes up that web (2Th 2:3-8), to then be able to rightly divide the word and become true fishers of men, using the word of God via the power of God and not by the self-righteous wisdom of man’s power which we naturally trust in at first (1Co 2:4-5 , Rom 3:4).

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Rom 3:3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Pro 30:29  There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
Pro 30:30  A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

The mention of three in this verse, “There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:” is to remind us that it is by the judgement (3) of God upon us in this age that we can be comely and see things go well in our goings (Pro 13:24) that are then likened unto the beasts detailed below, who typify the life of Christ within God’s people.

Pro 30:29 Three, things there are which step along well, ye, four, which excel in going: (Rotherham)

We can endure all things by Christ who strengthens us (Php 4:13) and overcome the adversary with the faith of Christ, and so it is Christ in us our hope of glory (Col 1:27) who makes it possible for us to fulfill this verse, “A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any”. We are more than conquerors through Him and are learning day by day as we die daily, that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39 , Mat 10:19).

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Pro 30:31  A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Here are the numbers on “a greyhound”H2223 H4975 and “an he goat”H8495.

“a greyhound”H2223 H4975

H2223  zarzı̂yr  zar-zeer’

1. girded, girt, alert, used with 4975 in Pro 30:31
2. perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

H4975   môthen  mo’-then From an unused root meaning to be slender; properly the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins: –  + greyhound, loins, side.

greyhound, 1
Pro 30:31

loins, 41
Gen 37:34; Exo 12:11; Exo 28:42; Deu 33:11; 2Sa 20:8; 1Ki 2:5; 1Ki 12:10; 1Ki 18:46; 1Ki 20:31; 1Ki 20:32; 2Ki 1:8; 2Ki 4:29; 2Ki 9:1; 2Ch 10:10; Job 12:18; Job 40:16; Psa 66:11; Psa 69:23; Pro 31:17; Isa 11:5; Isa 20:2; Isa 21:3; Isa 45:1; Jer 1:17; Jer 13:1; Jer 13:2; Jer 13:4; Jer 13:11; Jer 48:37; Eze 1:27(2); Eze 8:2(2); Eze 21:6; Eze 23:15; Eze 29:7; Eze 44:18; Eze 47:4; Dan 10:5; Amo 8:10; Nah 2:10

side, 4
Neh 4:18; Eze 9:2; Eze 9:3; Eze 9:11

strong, 1
Nah 2:1

“an he goat”H8495  tayish  tah’-yeesh
From an unused root meaning to butt; a buck or he goat (as given to butting): – he goat.

goat, 1
Pro 30:31

goats, 3
Gen 30:35; Gen 32:14; 2Ch 17:11

Both represent Christ and the strength of His life within His body, as well as “a king, against whom there is no rising up”.

Humanity has been rising up against Christ from the beginning of creation, and will do so right until Gog and Magog (Rev 20:8). As the “King”, Jesus Christ keeps showing flesh that there is “no rising up” that will not be put down, and that is especially true for God’s elect today, within (1Jn 4:4 , 1Jn 3:1 , Joh 8:36).

The qualities described below of the greyhound and the goat explain to us the zeal of our Lord and King who will be consumed for His house which we are (Joh 2:17). Christ is likened unto a goat as are the elect with His life abiding within us in (Gen 30:35-43).

Gen 30:35  And he [Jacob] removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
…Gen 30:39  And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
…Gen 30:41  And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

The greyhound is connected to the word “loins” which refers to the area between the ribs and the hips, including the lower back and reproductive organs. It is also used in a symbolic way to represent strength, having children, and being ready to act. Christ has ‘girded up his loins’ for us, and because we are more than conquerors through him we will be His inheritance who will be girded with power as well (Eph 1:18 , Rev 19:15-16). The loins and the thigh are referenced together in these verses (Exo 28:41-43) and point to rulership.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Exo 28:41  And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
Exo 28:42  And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
Exo 28:43  And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.

Pro 30:32  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Pro 30:33  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

These last two proverbs admonish us to remain humble in our walk with the Lord knowing that He who has begun this good work of faith within us will finish it (Php 1:6).

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

What do we do “If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil”? We repent and don’t despise God’s goodness that brought us to that point (Rom 2:4 , 1Jn 1:9 , Jer 3:13), we “lay thine hand upon thy mouth”.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jer 3:13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

Inevitably, if we do not humbly walk together, “the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife”. These verses are an admonition for the body of Christ to walk in harmony, and to be at peace with each other, otherwise we won’t be able to “see the Lord” (Heb 12:14) and go on to become the woman described in the last chapter of proverbs 31.

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Abraham typifies Christ for us today and the first instance of the word “strife”H7379  in the bible shows us how he dealt with a potentially “strife”- filled situation (Gen 13:7-9).

Gen 13:7  And there was a strifeH7379 between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Gen 13:8  And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strifeH4808, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Gen 13:9  Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

We can strain at a gnat and swallow a camel if we are not looking to the Lord (Mat 23:24), but when we do look to him for the strength and maturity we need in our walk, we can truly be at peace with all men and have holiness in our lives. Without that right perspective we become the blind guides who cannot “see the Lord”, meaning to perceive His wisdom and His mind, which will always bring peace that passes all understanding when it is granted (Php 4:7).

Mat 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.