Proverbs 6:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

A section totally dissimilar from the rest of this division of Pr. It consists of four short subsections

Proverbs 6:1-5 against suretyship, Proverbs 6:6-11 against sloth, Proverbs 6:12-15 against talebearing, Proverbs 6:16-19 against seven sins. Then the subject of sexual vice is continued from Proverbs 5. Proverbs 6:1-19 obviously breaks the connexion, and was probably inserted after the compilation of Proverbs 6:1-9.

Proverbs 6:1-5. The Dangers of Suretyship. Early Semitic legislation does not deal directly with suretyship, although directions relating to pledges and release from debt are given. In Nehemiah 5 we have a case of mortgage and its hardship. The practice of giving personal security probably grew up in post-exilic times. See also Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 22:26 f., Proverbs 27:13; Sir_8:13; Sir_29:14-20.

Proverbs 6:1. stricken hands: cf. Job 17:3; Ezekiel 17:18; Ezra 10:19.

Proverbs 6:3. The context favours RVm. importune: the Heb. means to rage against, be arrogant (cf. Rahab in Isaiah 30:7). The endangered surety should take strong measures to force his friend either to meet his liabilities or to set him free from his bond.

Proverbs 6:6-11. The Dangers of Sloth. Cf. Proverbs 30:24 and Proverbs 24:30-34. The latter is evidently derived from the same source as this passage, and requires Proverbs 6:9 to make the connexion clear between Proverbs 6:32 and Proverbs 6:33. The ant figures in most of the ancient proverbial lore as the type of provident thrift and industry. The LXX adds, probably incorrectly, some clauses concerning the bee.

Proverbs 6:11. robber: lit. rover, almost equivalent to tramp. armed man: lit. man with a shield.

Proverbs 6:12-15. Description and Retribution of the Talebearer. The earliest codes reflect the prevalence of this social crime (cf. Exodus 23:1; Leviticus 19:16).

Proverbs 6:12. worthless person: lit. man of Belial, more commonly in Heb. son of Belial (Deuteronomy 13:13 *). The usually accepted derivation (see BDB) regards Belial as a compound signifying without worth. But all the uses of the word do not agree with this derivation (cf. Psalms 18:4), and especially its use as a proper name (2 Corinthians 6:15, Asc. Isaiah 3:23). It may be the name of some Bab. deity (cf. EBi).

Proverbs 6:13. Malan cites the apposite parallel from the Institutes of Manu: Beware of having nimble hands and moveable feet, a winking eye, of being crooked in thy ways, of having a voluble tongue, and of being clever at doing mischief to others.

Proverbs 6:15 b. A verbal parallel occurs in Proverbs 29:1.

Proverbs 6:16-19. Seven Things Hateful to God. Possibly the insertion of this short passage here was suggested by the recurrence in it (Proverbs 6:19 b) of the unusual phrase in Proverbs 6:14 b, scattereth strifes. It reflects throughout a literary acquaintance with OT, and is therefore probably late. All the characteristics mentioned occur in other parts of OT (cf. Isaiah 2:11; Psalms 31:18; Isaiah 59:3; Isaiah 59:7; Genesis 6:5, etc.).

Proverbs 6:20-35. Warning against the Adulteress. Here the subject of ch. 5 is resumed, exhortation to sexual purity (see Proverbs 5:7-14 *).

Proverbs 6:22 f. The change to the sing. (it) in Proverbs 6:22 points to some disarrangement, and the close connexion between Proverbs 6:20 and Proverbs 6:23 suggests that Proverbs 6:23 should follow Proverbs 6:21, and that before Proverbs 6:22 a clause introducing wisdom as the subject has been lost.

Proverbs 6:25. Cf. Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28.

Proverbs 6:26. The text is obscure and probably corrupt (cf. ICC), AV and RV incorrect. The main problem is whether the harlot is synonymous or contrasted with the adulteress. The latter is more probable; the harlot only hunts for a piece of bread i.e. for a livelihood the adulteress seeks to ruin her victim. The man is throughout the foolish victim, and the adulteress is the temptress.

Proverbs 6:30-35. A contrast between the fate of a thief and that of the adulterer. The point is not clear. MT means that a thief who steals to satisfy his desire does not lose social prestige, nevertheless he must pay the penalty in a fine. Many regard this as unsatisfactory, and Proverbs 6:30 a may be a question (so some MSS.), do they not despise, etc.? i.e. the thief only loses the respect of his fellows, but escapes further punishment by payment of a fine, while the adulterer loses caste and cannot escape the penalty of the law by private arrangement with the jealous husband. But can a thief, who steals to satisfy his hunger, pay sevenfold for his offence?

Proverbs 6:31. sevenfold: for the law of restitution in cases of theft and fraud cf. Exodus 22:1, five-or fourfold; Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 22:7, double; Leviticus 6:5, restoration of the principal plus one-fifth. Luke 19:8 and 2 Samuel 12:6 show that the fourfold measure was apparently the prevalent one. Sevenfold is probably rhetorical rather than legal.

Related Commentaries of Proverbs 6:1

Proverbs 6:1-35

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

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he sowetha discord.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proudb look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp;c and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteressd will hunt for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding:e he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.