Proverbs 6:5

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.

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

  • Urgency of Escape: The primary message is the imperative need for immediate and decisive action when one finds themselves in a dangerous or ensnaring situation. Just as a hunted animal does not hesitate, neither should the one caught in a snare.
  • Prudence and Foresight: While the verse speaks of escape, its underlying message within the broader context of Proverbs is to cultivate wisdom and foresight to avoid such traps in the first place.
  • Consequences of Bad Decisions: It highlights the severe and potentially life-altering consequences of foolish or ill-considered agreements, particularly financial ones that can lead to a loss of freedom or security.
  • Self-Deliverance: The phrase "Deliver thyself" emphasizes personal responsibility and the active role an individual must take in their own rescue. While God is the ultimate deliverer, wisdom often calls for human initiative.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used enhance the imagery:

  • "Roe" (Hebrew: tsevi - צְבִי): Refers to a gazelle or deer, an animal known for its swiftness, agility, and instinct to flee danger.
  • "Hunter" (Hebrew: yad tsayyad - יַד־צַיָּד): Literally "hand of the hunter." The hunter represents the source of immediate, life-threatening danger.
  • "Bird" (Hebrew: tsippor - צִפּוֹר): A general term for a bird, often associated with innocence and vulnerability, yet capable of quick flight.
  • "Fowler" (Hebrew: yad yaqosh - יַד־יָקוֹשׁ): Literally "hand of the fowler." A fowler is one who sets snares or traps for birds, implying cunning and the hidden nature of the danger.
  • "Deliver thyself" (Hebrew: natsal - נַצֵּל): This verb means to snatch away, rescue, or deliver. In this reflexive form, it means to rescue oneself, emphasizing a proactive effort to break free from entanglement.

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":

  • Financial Traps: Beyond suretyship, this applies to crippling debt, predatory loans, or get-rich-quick schemes. The wisdom is to act swiftly to extricate oneself from such commitments or to avoid them entirely.
  • Harmful Relationships: If one finds themselves in an abusive, manipulative, or spiritually compromising relationship, the verse calls for decisive action to "deliver thyself."
  • Addictions and Bad Habits: The imagery of being caught in a snare can represent the grip of addiction or destructive habits. The verse urges immediate, determined effort to break free.
  • Spiritual Complacency: Sometimes, spiritual apathy or compromise can become a trap. The verse serves as a call to awaken and actively seek deliverance from anything that hinders one's walk with God.

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.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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?

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