ITHIEL AND UCAL

('ithi'el we'ukhal): Names of the two men to whom Agur the son of Jakeh spoke his words (Proverbs 30:1). The purport of introducing these persons is strange and obscure; the margin proposes therefore, by the use of a different pointing, to read the verse, "The man said, I have wearied myself, O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed," thus doing away with the proper names; a reading which corresponds not inaptly with the tone of the succeeding verses.

See AGUR; PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF, II, 6.

John Franklin Genung

UCAL

u'-kal ('ukhal (see below)): This name occurs along with that of Ithiel (Proverbs 30:1), both being taken by older interpreters as those of ancient sages. Some have suggested (see Toy, Proverbs, 519) that Ucal might be the "Caleol" of 1 Kings 4:31 (Hebrew 5:11). Ucal was also explained as "I can," i.e. "I can maintain my obedience to God," just as Ithiel was taken to be "signs of God." Septuagint, Aquila, Theodotion do not take the words as proper names, and so BDB with others point this word as a vb., "(and) I am consumed" (wa'ekhel, for we'ukhal). The last three words of the verse are then translated "I have wearied myself, O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed."

See ITHIEL.

David Francis Roberts