Proverbs 30:25
New International Version
Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

New Living Translation
Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.

English Standard Version
the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;

Berean Standard Bible
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

King James Bible
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

New King James Version
The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

New American Standard Bible
The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

NASB 1995
The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

NASB 1977
The ants are not a strong folk, But they prepare their food in the summer;

Legacy Standard Bible
The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

Amplified Bible
The ants are not a strong people, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

Christian Standard Bible
ants are not a strong people, yet they store up their food in the summer;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the ants are not a strong people, yet they store up their food in the summer;

American Standard Version
The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;

Contemporary English Version
Ants, who seem to be feeble, but store up food all summer long;

English Revised Version
The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their meat in the summer;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ants are not a strong species, yet they store their food in summer.

Good News Translation
Ants: they are weak, but they store up their food in the summer.

International Standard Version
Ants aren't a strong species, yet they prepare their food in the summer.

Majority Standard Bible
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

NET Bible
ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;

New Heart English Bible
the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.

Webster's Bible Translation
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;

World English Bible
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The ants [are] a people not strong, "" And they prepare their food in summer,

Young's Literal Translation
The ants are a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,

Smith's Literal Translation
The ants a people not strong, and they will prepare their bread in the summer;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest:

Catholic Public Domain Version
the ants, an infirm people who provide food for themselves at the harvest,

New American Bible
Ants—a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer;

New Revised Standard Version
the ants are a people without strength, yet they provide their food in the summer;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The ants which have no strength, yet they provide their food in the summer;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Ants that have no power in them and from the harvest they prepare their bread,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Words of Agur
24Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise: 25The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; 26the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:6-8
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 10:5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

Proverbs 20:4
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

Genesis 41:34-36
Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. / Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. / This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

Genesis 41:47-49
During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully. / During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it. / So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

Exodus 16:4-5
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. / Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Exodus 16:17-18
So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some less. / When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.

Exodus 16:21
Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

Exodus 16:26
For six days you may gather, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, it will not be there.”

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

Luke 16:1-9
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. / So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ / The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. ...

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: …

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Creatures Food Little Meat Prepare Provide Store Strength Strong Summer
Proverbs 30
1. Agur's confession of his faith
7. The two points of his prayer
10. The meanest are not to be wronged
11. Four wicked generations
15. Four things insatiable
24. four things exceeding wise
29. Four things stately
32. Wrath is to be prevented














the ants
The Hebrew word for "ants" is "נְמָלִים" (nemalim). Ants are small, industrious insects known for their remarkable ability to work collectively and efficiently. In the ancient Near Eastern context, ants were observed for their diligence and foresight. Despite their size, they are a model of industriousness and cooperation, reflecting the wisdom of God's creation. The mention of ants in this verse serves as a metaphor for the virtues of hard work and preparation, encouraging believers to emulate these qualities in their spiritual and daily lives.

are not a strong species
The phrase highlights the physical weakness of ants, as they are small and seemingly insignificant creatures. The Hebrew word "עָז" (az) can mean strong or mighty, and its negation here emphasizes the contrast between their physical frailty and their remarkable achievements. This serves as a reminder that strength is not solely determined by physical might but by wisdom, diligence, and the ability to work together. In a spiritual sense, it encourages believers to rely on God's strength and wisdom rather than their own.

yet they store up their food
The Hebrew verb "כּוּן" (kun) means to prepare or establish. Ants are known for their ability to gather and store food, ensuring their survival during times of scarcity. This action of storing up food is a demonstration of foresight and prudence. In a biblical context, it serves as an allegory for spiritual preparedness and the importance of laying up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). It encourages believers to be proactive in their faith, preparing for spiritual challenges by grounding themselves in God's Word and wisdom.

in the summer
The mention of "summer" refers to the time of harvest and abundance. In the Hebrew calendar, summer was a season of gathering and preparation for the coming winter. This phrase underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and making the most of the present time. Spiritually, it serves as a call to action for believers to be diligent in their spiritual growth and service while the opportunity exists. It echoes the biblical principle of redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:16) and being prepared for the future, both physically and spiritually.

Verse 25. - The ants are a people not strong. The ant is proposed as an example to the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6, etc.). He calls the ants a people, am, because they live in a community, and have authorities which they obey, and their actions are regulated by certain definite laws. So Joel (Joel 1:6) calls the locusts a nation, and Homer ('Iliad,' 2:87) speaks of ἔθνεα μελισσάων ἀδινάων, "the tribes of thronging bees." Yet they prepare their meat in the summer. In countries where ants hybernate the object of this commended foresight is mistaken; but the statement, as that in Proverbs 6:6-8, is in accordance with the popular belief of the day, and serves well to point the moral intended. We know certainly that in Europe these insects fill their nests with heterogeneous articles - grain, seeds, husks, etc., not as stores to be consumed in the winter, but for warmth and comfort's sake. Scripture is not intended to teach science; it speaks of such matters phenomenally, with no attempt at a precision which would not have been understood or appreciated by contemporaries. But in the present case more careful observation has confirmed the correctness of the asset. tions in our proverbs. In countries where, ants do not hybernate, they do make granaries for themselves in the summer, and use these supplies as food in the winter months (see note on Proverbs 6:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the ants
הַ֭נְּמָלִים (han·nə·mā·lîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5244: An ant

are not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

a strong
עָ֑ז (‘āz)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh

species,
עַ֣ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

yet they store up
וַיָּכִ֖ינוּ (way·yā·ḵî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3559: To be erect

their food
לַחְמָֽם׃ (laḥ·mām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

in the summer;
בַקַּ֣יִץ (ḇaq·qa·yiṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7019: To awake


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 30:25 The ants are not a strong people (Prov. Pro Pr)
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