My son. See note on Proverbs 1:8 . if. This word should be supplied at the beginning of each line in Proverbs 6:2 , as well as in Proverbs 6:1 . friend = neighbour. stricken thy hand. Idiom for making a contract. Compare Job 17:3 . stranger = an apostate. Hebrew. zur. See note on Proverbs 5:3 . read more
This chapter has a number of independent warnings against:(1) being surety for the obligations of others (Proverbs 6:1-5),(2) against laziness (Proverbs 6:6-11),(3) against wicked men (Proverbs 6:12-15),(4) against seven things which God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19), and(5) against both harlots and adulteresses (Proverbs 6:20-35).Keil, combining warnings (3) and (4) here labeled warnings 1,2, 3, and 5 as "The ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth discourses in this first section of Proverbs (Proverbs... read more
Proverbs 6:1. My son, if thou be surety— This and the ten following verses contain precepts oeconomical. The wise man recommends first, not to become surety for another; and, secondly, to avoid idleness: he inculcates the first advice in various places of this book; and certainly nothing is more contrary to true oeconomy, than to expose one's own affairs to ruin from the negligence and ill-conduct of a stranger: Solomon does not forbid us to give or to lend; he exhorts, on the contrary, to do... read more
1, 2. if—The condition extends through both verses. be surety—art pledged. stricken . . . hand—bargained (compare Job 17:3). with a stranger—that is, for a friend (compare Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18). read more
10. Other dangerous temptations 6:1-19Solomon singled out a few more serious errors to avoid in addition to marital unfaithfulness. These include assuming liability for the debts of others (Proverbs 6:1-5), being lazy (Proverbs 6:6-11), being untruthful (Proverbs 6:12-15), and seven other practices that need no clarification (Proverbs 6:16-19).The advice in this section provides a good example of what prudence is. A prudent person is one who is capable of exercising sound judgment in practical... read more
Dissuasives from Hurtful thingsProverbs 6:1-19 are inserted here from some other collection, and contain warnings against suretyships (1-5), sloth (6-11), falseness (12-15), evils which the Lordhates (16-19). At Proverbs 6:20 the thread of Proverbs 5 is resumed.1. The surety appears to have taken the creditor’s hand in the presence of witnesses: cp. 2 Kings 10:15. 3. Read, ’Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour, go, bestir thyself, and beset thy neighbour. Make haste to get out of... read more
VI.(i). Ninth Discourse:—Against Suretyship (Proverbs 6:1-5).(1) If thou be surety for thy friend.—When the Mosaic Law was instituted, commerce had not been taken up by the Israelites, and the lending of money on interest for its employment in trade was a thing unknown. The only occasion for loans would be to supply the immediate necessities of the borrower, and the exaction of interest under such circumstances would be productive of great hardship, involving the loss of land and even personal... read more
CHAPTER 7CERTAIN EXAMPLES OF THE BINDING CHARACTER OF OUR OWN ACTIONS"The surety the sluggard and the worthless person." Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 6:6; Proverbs 6:12FROM the solemn principle announced at the close of the last chapter the teacher passes, almost unconscious of the thought which determines his selection of subjects, to illustrate the truth by three examples, -that of the Surety, that of the Sluggard, that of the Worthless Man. And then, because the horrors of impurity are the most... read more
CHAPTER 6 1. The surety (Proverbs 6:1-5 ) 2. The sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11 ) 3. The naughty, good-for-nothing person (Proverbs 6:12-19 ) 4. The strange woman (Proverbs 6:20-35 ) Proverbs 6:1-5 . These are instructions concerning contracts, in being surety for a neighbor and the danger connected with it. Proverbs 6:6-11 . The sluggard is commanded to go to the ant for a lesson. (See also Proverbs 30:25 .) The ant is a marvellous little creature. That which modern science has found out... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-19
Rashness, laziness and troublemaking (6:1-19)A person can easily get into serious difficulties by agreeing to be a financial guarantor for a friend (or a stranger), as the friend may get so far into debt that the guarantor is ruined. If the guarantor realizes that he made a rash promise, he should act quickly. He should not rest till he has gone back to his friend, told him of his true position, and withdrawn his guarantee. Only in this way will he save himself from possible disaster... read more