Text: Proverbs 30:5-6
OT Text Referred to: Deuteronomy 4:2
Subject: Prohibition against adding to God's words
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Allusion
Connection Method(s): Longitudinal Theme
Significance: Proverbs 30:5-6 directly echoes Deuteronomy 4:2 by combining a declaration about God's word with a prohibition against adding to it. Moses commanded "you must not add to" (לֹא תֹסִפוּ, lo tosifu) God's commandments; Agur warns "do not add to His words" (אַל־תּוֹסְףְּ עַל־דְּבָרָיו, al-toseph al-devarav), using the same root יָסַף (yasaph). While Deuteronomy grounds the prohibition in covenant obedience -- keeping God's commandments without alteration -- Proverbs grounds it in the tested purity of God's speech (אִמְרַת אֱלוֹהַּ צְרוּפָה, "every word of God is refined") and adds a consequence: "lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar." The expanded range from Proverbs 30:5 ("every word of God") universalizes what Deuteronomy applied specifically to Mosaic Torah, extending the sufficiency principle to all divine revelation.
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Text: Deuteronomy 4:2
OT Text Referred to: Proverbs 30:5-6
Subject: Law and divine commandments
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Allusion
Connection Method(s): Longitudinal Theme
Significance: Moses commands, "You must not add to or subtract from what I command you" (לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל הַדָּבָר... וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, lo tosifu 'al haddavar... velo tigre'u mimmennu), establishing the inviolability of divine revelation. Proverbs 30:5-6 echoes this prohibition: "Every word of God is flawless... Do not add to His words (אַל תּוֹסְףְ עַל דְּבָרָיו, 'al tosef 'al devarav), or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar." Both texts use the same verb יסף (yasaf, "add") to prohibit human augmentation of divine speech. Agur's wisdom saying in Proverbs transposes the Deuteronomic legal principle into sapiential instruction, broadening it from Mosaic legislation specifically to "every word of God" generally, while adding the warning of divine rebuke for those who tamper with God's words.