Proverbs 6:2-3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:3

Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself ,.... Take the following advice, as the best that can be given in such circumstances, in order to be freed from such an obligation, or to be safe and easy under it; when thou art come into the hand of thy friend ; or, "because or seeing thou art fallen into the hand of thy friend,' as the Targum; or "though thou art,' &c.; as Aben Ezra; which may be understood either of the creditor to whom a man is bound, or of the debtor for whom he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 6:3

Do this - deliver thyself - Continue to press him for whom thou art become surety, to pay his creditor; give him no rest till he do it, else thou mayest fully expect to be left to pay the debt. 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

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