Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

The fourth, The greedy, cruel, and oppressive, and, especially, oppressive to the poor.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

There is a generation whose teeth are as swords,.... As sharp as swords; like such the beasts of prey have; cruel, barbarous, and inhuman creatures; see Psalm 57:4;

and their jaw teeth as knives; exceeding sharp and biting:

to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men: by their tyranny, oppression, and cruelty, to deprive them of the little they have; and even to take away their lives from them, and utterly destroy them; of this disposition are all tyrants and persecutors: such were Rome Pagan, compared to a red dragon in the times of the ten Heathen persecutions; and such is Rome Papal, signified by a beast, like a leopard, bear, and lion; and which has been drunk with the blood of the saints.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Devour — Extortioners, and cruel oppressors.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Proverbs 30:14 [There is] a generation, whose teeth [are as] swords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.

Ver. 14. There is a generation whose teeth, &c.] These are sycophants and greedy gripers, of whom before, often, in this book. In the year 1235, there were spread through England certain Roman usurers, called Caursini, quasi capientis ursi, devouring bears, quoth Paris, who had entangled the king, nobles, and all that had to do with them. These were called the "Pope’s merchants." (a)

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Extortioners, and cruel oppressors, who grind the faces of the poor.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

poor = needy. Hebrew. "ain. See note on Proverbs 6:11. Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 30:8, Proverbs 30:9.

men. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

A generation whose teeth (are as) swords ... to devour the poor - voracious rapacity seeking its gratification by calumny and violence, at the cost of those most calculated to move compassion, the poor and needy.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

whose

12:18; Job 29:17; Psalms 3:7; 52:2; 57:4; 58:6; Daniel 7:5-7; Revelation 9:8

to devour

22:16; 28:3; Psalms 10:8,9; 12:5; 14:4; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Isaiah 32:7; Amos 2:7; 4:1; 8:4; Micah 2:1,2; 3:1-5; Habakkuk 3:14; Zephaniah 3:3; Matthew 23:14; James 5:1-4