A Book Of Words

 "For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear." Prov.30:21

Sometimes we read the Bible and we think that we understand what it says. That is how this verse is to me. But then I wondered, what does disquieted mean and what does it mean to bear?

The word disquieted is the Hebrew word ragaz. It literally means to be angry or to cause a disturbance. It is a word that is not commonly used in the Bible. Here are two other places where it is used.

"Then Samuel said to Saul, why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?" 1Sam.28:15. When Saul contacted Samuel by the witch at Endor.

"Their redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon." Jer.50:34

One translation of the word is perturbed. There are things that people do that upset God and His creation and His people.

To bear is the Hebrew word nasa. It literally means to bear, to bear up, to carry, to lift up. It is the idea of lifting. This word is commonly used in the Old Testament.

"If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shall bear it."Prov.9:12

"The spirit of a man shall sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Prov.18:14

The bible is a book of words. To rightly divide the word of truth you must learn how to define and apply words.