Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Deliver {H5337} thyself as a roe {H6643} from the hand {H3027} of the hunter, and as a bird {H6833} from the hand {H3027} of the fowler {H3353}.
break free, like a gazelle from the [hunter's] trap, like a bird from the grip of the fowler.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
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Psalms 91:3
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. -
Psalms 124:7
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. -
Proverbs 1:17
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. -
Psalms 11:1
¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?
Commentary on Proverbs 6:5 (KJV)
Proverbs 6:5 issues a powerful, urgent exhortation to escape from perilous situations, particularly those brought on by unwise financial commitments. The verse uses vivid imagery from the natural world to convey the necessity of swift and decisive action.
Context
This verse is part of a larger section (Proverbs 6:1-5) where King Solomon, the primary author of Proverbs, warns against the dangers of becoming surety for another – that is, co-signing a loan or guaranteeing a debt for a neighbor or stranger. Such an act, if the principal defaults, could lead to one's own financial ruin and servitude. The preceding verses advise humbling oneself and earnestly seeking release from such a binding agreement. Proverbs 6:5 then provides a metaphor for the desperate urgency required to free oneself from this financial "trap," likening it to an animal fleeing for its life.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew terms used enhance the imagery:
Related Scriptures
The theme of escape and deliverance from snares is common in Scripture. This verse echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 124:7, where the soul escapes the fowler's snare. The broader principle of seeking wisdom to avoid pitfalls is central to the entire book of Proverbs, as seen in Proverbs 4:7, which states that wisdom is the principal thing. The warning against suretyship itself is reiterated in Proverbs 22:26-27.
Practical Application
Proverbs 6:5 offers timeless wisdom applicable to various modern-day "traps":
The core message is to recognize danger quickly and act with the same urgency and instinct for self-preservation that an animal exhibits when its life is threatened. Don't linger, don't rationalize, but escape immediately.