Proverbs 6:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

It is the excellency of the word of God that it teaches us not only divine wisdom for another world, but human prudence for this world, that we may order our affairs with discretion; and this is one good rule, To avoid suretiship, because by it poverty and ruin are often brought into families, which take away that comfort in relations which he had recommended in the foregoing chapter. 1. We must look upon suretiship as a snare and decline it accordingly, Ps. 6:1, 2. ?It is dangerous enough for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:2

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth ,.... Got into a snare out of which an escape is not easy; art no longer free, and thine own man, but under obligation to pay the debt if required; by the verbal agreement made and confirmed by striking hands, and this before witnesses; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth ; as in a net, and held fast therein and thereby, and cannot get loose without paying the debt, if the debtor does not, or without the leave of the creditor. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

9. Ninth admonitory discourse. Warning against suretyship. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

The surety Our Christian charity may naturally be shocked at the selfishness apparently inculcated by the frequent warnings against giving security for others that are scattered up and down the Book of Proverbs. They have done more than anything else to lead people to regard the standard of morality of the Proverbs as low and worldly. Let us consider the subject from various points of view. I. THE STANDARD OF MORALITY OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IS LOWER THAN THAT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

The perils of suretyship Here we have - I. A FEATURE OF ANCIENT LIFE . The warnings against incurring this responsibility are very frequent in this book ( Proverbs 11:15 ; Proverbs 17:18 ; Proverbs 20:16 ; Proverbs 22:26 ). For the bail was treated like the insolvent debtor ( 2 Kings 4:1 ; Matthew 18:25 ). He was subject to distraint or to be sold into slavery. Ben-Sira (29, 18, seq. ) says, "Suretyship hath destroyed many that were doing well, and swallowed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

Answering for others; danger and deliverance There are times when we are invited and are bound to answer for other people—it may be with our word, or it may be with our bond. We have all been indebted to the kindnesses of our friends in this direction, and that which we have received from our fellows we should be ready to give to them in return. But it is a matter in which it is very easy to go much too far; in which carelessness is wrong and even criminal; in which, therefore wise counsel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-35

The sixth chapter embraces four distinct discourses, each of which is a warning. The subjects treated of are The continuity of the subject treated of in the preceding chapter appears to be somewhat abruptly interrupted to make way for the insertion of three discourses on subjects which apparently have little connection with what precedes and what follows. Their unlooked for and unexpected appearance has led Hitzig to regard them as interpolations, but it has been conclusively pointed out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:2

Thou art snared with the words of thy month, etc.; i.e. the inevitable consequence of an inconsiderate undertaking of suretyship is that you become entangled and involved by your own premises, and hampered by self-imposed obligations. The Authorized Version rightly regards this as the conclusion. So the Vulgate. Others, however, carry on the hypothesis, and insert im , "if:" "If thou art snared," etc.; but without warrant (Zockler, Wordsworth, Plumptre). The LXX . throws the thought... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 6:1-2

Proverbs 6:1-2. My son, if thou be surety for, or to, thy friend Namely, rashly and unadvisedly, without considering for whom, or how the thou dost oblige thyself, or how thou shalt discharge the debt if occasion require it: otherwise suretiship, in some cases, may be not only lawful, but an act of justice and charity; if thou hast stricken thy hand Obliged thyself by giving thy hand, or joining thy hand with another man’s, as the custom then was in such cases; (of which, see Job 17:3,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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