Proverbs 6:1

¶ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, [if] thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

My son {H1121}, if thou be surety {H6148} for thy friend {H7453}, if thou hast stricken {H8628} thy hand {H3709} with a stranger {H2114},

My son, if you have put up security for your friend, if you committed yourself on behalf of another;

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;

Commentary

Commentary on Proverbs 6:1 (KJV)

Proverbs 6:1, part of the extensive collection of wisdom literature in the Old Testament, opens a crucial section of practical advice, particularly concerning financial prudence. This verse serves as an immediate warning against the dangers of becoming a guarantor or co-signer for another's debt, especially when the commitment is made rashly.

Context

The book of Proverbs is largely a collection of wise sayings and instructions, often presented as a father's advice to his son. Its purpose is to impart wisdom, discipline, and understanding for navigating life's challenges. Chapter 6 specifically addresses various pitfalls, beginning with financial imprudence, followed by warnings against laziness, deceit, and adultery. In ancient Israel, and indeed in many cultures, personal guarantee or suretyship was a common practice for securing loans or obligations, but it carried significant risks for the guarantor.

Key Themes

  • Financial Caution and Responsibility: The primary message is a strong warning against taking on the financial liabilities of others. The verse highlights the inherent risk in pledging one's own resources for another's obligations, particularly if that person is not well-known or trustworthy. This theme is echoed throughout Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of avoiding suretyship as a path to financial ruin.
  • The Binding Nature of Agreements: The phrase "stricken thy hand" refers to a customary practice of sealing an agreement, often with a handshake, signifying a solemn and binding commitment. This underscores that such pledges are not lightly broken and carry serious consequences.
  • Discernment in Relationships: The distinction between "friend" and "stranger" suggests varying degrees of risk. While the warning applies generally, undertaking such a commitment for a "stranger" (someone less known or whose character is uncertain) is presented as particularly precarious, highlighting the need for wisdom in choosing whom to trust financially.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "surety" is ` ערב` ('arav), which means to "mix," "exchange," or "pledge." It vividly describes the act of intertwining one's financial fate with another's, taking on their risk as one's own. The idiom "stricken thy hand" (Hebrew: ` תקעת כפך` - taka'ta khaphekha) literally means "struck your palm," referring to the ancient practice of striking hands as a formal gesture to seal a contract or agreement. This highlights the solemnity and binding nature of such a commitment in the eyes of the community.

Practical Application

In contemporary terms, Proverbs 6:1 serves as a profound warning against co-signing loans, acting as a guarantor for rentals, or making any financial pledge on behalf of another where one's own assets are at risk. While generosity and helping others are biblical virtues, this verse teaches the importance of wisdom and discernment in financial matters. It is not a prohibition against all forms of aid, but a caution against financially binding oneself in a way that could lead to personal ruin or severe stress, particularly when the borrower is unreliable or the commitment is made impulsively. For further insight into the dangers, consider the subsequent verses in this chapter, such as Proverbs 6:2-5, which elaborate on the desperate measures one might need to take to escape such a snare. The overarching principle is to exercise wisdom and foresight in all financial dealings.

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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 17:18 (8 votes)

    ¶ A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

  • Proverbs 22:26 (8 votes)

    ¶ Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.

  • Proverbs 11:15 (7 votes)

    ¶ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

  • Proverbs 20:16 (6 votes)

    ¶ Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

  • Philemon 1:18 (4 votes)

    If he hath wronged thee, or oweth [thee] ought, put that on mine account;

  • Philemon 1:19 (4 votes)

    I Paul have written [it] with mine own hand, I will repay [it]: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

  • Proverbs 27:13 (3 votes)

    ¶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.