Can you explain “the way of a man with a maid”?

Question:

Hi Jeff,

Can you explain Proverbs 30:19, especially the statement: "the way of a man with a maid."

Answer:

"There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin" (Proverbs 30:18-19).

Agur appears to like lists, and in Proverbs 30:18-19 Agur lists out three things that he finds absolutely fascinating and four things that he doesn't understand how they work.

  • Eagles soar in the air. They can glide, hover, and climb seemingly without needing to flap their wings like other birds. What holds them up? What keeps them in place? We have a better grasp of the aerodynamics that allow these feats, but it is still fascinating to watch.
  • Serpents have no feet; yet, they move across the ground and can climb trees. Some species can move amazingly fast. So how does it work? Again, we understand better with microscopes examining the underbelly of serpents, but it still is something can watch for a long time.
  • Ships have mastered the art of using the wind to propel them along. But more interesting is to watch a sailing vessel tack and actually make progress against the wind. Who doesn't like watching boats sailing?
  • But all of the above set up the largest puzzle of all: What causes a man to fall in love with a particular woman? Sometimes it seems that opposites attract. Other times the two people seem to have been cut from the same mold. You think that two people will enjoy each other's company only to find out they can't stand each other. Then there are people who seem to have nothing in common but their love for each other. Truly this is a mystery that cannot be solved, but it is wonderful to watch two lovers conversing with each other.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email