Lexical Summary mits: Juice, extract Original Word: מִיץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance churning, forcing, wringing From muwts; pressure -- churning, forcing, wringing. see HEBREW muwts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition squeezing, pressing, wringing NASB Translation churning (2), pressing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִיץ noun masculine squeezing, pressing, wringing (3 t.) אַֿף יוֺצִיא דָ֑ם׳מִיץ חָלָב יוֺצִיא חֶמְאָה וּמ אַמַּיִם יוֺצִיא רִיב׃ ׳וּמ Proverbs 30:33 the squeezing of milk produceth curd (see ThomsonLand and Book, Centr. Pal. 456 RobBR i. 485; ii. 418), and the squeezing of the nose produceth blood, and (so) the squeezing of anger (i.e. pressure, insistence) produceth strife. מִישׁ see מושׁ. Topical Lexicon Definition and Literal Imagery מִיץ (mits) denotes the physical act of pressing, squeezing, or churning so that something hidden within is forced out. Proverbs 30:33 pictures three every-day examples of this principle: milk churned until curds appear, a nose twisted until blood flows, and anger agitated until open strife erupts. All three illustrate an immutable connection between cause and effect. Biblical Occurrence Proverbs 30:33 is the sole canonical instance: “For as the churning of milk produces butter, and twisting the nose draws blood, so stirring up anger produces strife” (Berean Standard Bible). Repetition of the same Hebrew term with each clause heightens the parallelism and underscores that the outcomes are as predictable morally as they are physically. Historical and Cultural Background Churning milk was a familiar household task in ancient Israel, normally done in a skin bag or clay vessel. Continuous motion separated the fat, yielding thick curds or butter—an image of an inevitable, observable result. Nose-bleeding in the Ancient Near East was commonly provoked in fighting scenarios; twisting someone’s nose in a brawl guaranteed bloodshed. Agur, the sage behind Proverbs 30, selects tangible, agrarian-era illustrations his audience could not miss. The teaching assumes a worldview in which moral order is woven into creation: provoke anger and conflict will follow just as surely as dairy turns to curds under persistent pressure. Theological Themes 1. Moral Causality. Scripture consistently asserts that actions have consequences (Job 4:8; Galatians 6:7). מִיץ provides a vivid snapshot of that principle in the realm of human relationships. Intertextual Connections • Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Practical Ministry Implications • Conflict Counseling. When tempers flare in homes or congregations, Proverbs 30:33 supplies a concrete object lesson: continued provocation will produce relational “blood.” Leaders can use the verse to press for early reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24). מִיץ thus serves as a compact but potent proverb: what is relentlessly squeezed will eventually emerge. By heeding that warning, believers pursue peace and display the character of the God who “is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion” (Psalm 103:8). Forms and Transliterations וּֽמִיץ־ וּמִ֥יץ ומיץ ומיץ־ מִ֪יץ מיץ mîṣ mitz ū·mîṣ ū·mîṣ- ūmîṣ ūmîṣ- umitzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 30:33 HEB: כִּ֤י מִ֪יץ חָלָ֡ב י֘וֹצִ֤יא NAS: For the churning of milk produces KJV: Surely the churning of milk INT: For the churning of milk produces Proverbs 30:33 Proverbs 30:33 3 Occurrences |
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