1.
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
My son. See note on Proverbs 1:8 .
if. This word should be supplied at the beginning of each line in Proverbs 6:2 , as well as in Proverbs 6:1 .
friend = neighbour.
stricken thy hand. Idiom for making a contract. Compare Job 17:3 .
stranger = an apostate. Hebrew. zur. See note on Proverbs 5:3 .
2.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
words = sayings. Hebrew. 'imrah. App-73 .
3.
Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
deliver = rescue.
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.
hand. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac read "snare".
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.
in the summer. True of Eastern ants.
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.
poverty = need. There are six words rendered poor or poverty in Proverbs: (1) rush = in want of necessaries of life (Proverbs 6:11 ; Proverbs 10:4 , Proverbs 10:15 ; Proverbs 13:7 , Proverbs 13:8 , Proverbs 13:18 , Proverbs 13:23 ; Proverbs 14:20 ; Proverbs 17:5 ; Proverbs 18:23 ; Proverbs 19:1 , Proverbs 19:7 , Proverbs 19:22 ; Proverbs 22:2 , Proverbs 22:7 ; Proverbs 24:34 ; Proverbs 28:3 , Proverbs 28:6 , Proverbs 28:19 , Proverbs 28:27 ; Proverbs 29:13 ; Proverbs 30:8 ; Proverbs 31:7 ). (2) dal = impoverished, reduced (Proverbs 10:15 ; Proverbs 14:31 ; Proverbs 19:4 , Proverbs 19:17 ; Proverbs 22:9 , Proverbs 22:16 , Proverbs 22:22 , Proverbs 22:22 ; Proverbs 28:3 , Proverbs 8:11 , Proverbs 8:15 ; Proverbs 29:7 , Proverbs 29:14 ). (3) hes er = in want (Proverbs 11:24 ; Proverbs 21:17 ; Proverbs 28:22 ). (4) 'anah = wretched (Proverbs 14:21 ). (5) 'ebyon = destitute, helpless; deficient in will and wealth (Proverbs 14:31 ). (6) yarash = dispossessed (Proverbs 20:13 ; Proverbs 23:21 ; Proverbs 30:9 ).
as one that travelleth = as a highwayman.
as an armed man = as a man with a shield. Compare Pro 21:33 , Pro 21:34 .
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
12.
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
naughty person. Hebrew a man of Belial = a worthless person. Like Anglo-Saxon na (= no, or not) and wiht (= a thing) = a thing of naught: i.e. worthless.
wicked. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 .
froward = perverse. Same word as in Proverbs 4:24 ; Proverbs 11:20 ; Proverbs 17:20 ; Proverbs 22:5 . Not the same as elsewhere in Proverbs.
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 soweth discord.
Frowardness = Deceitfulness. See note on Proverbs 2:12 . The same word as in Proverbs 2:12 , Proverbs 2:14 ; Proverbs 8:13 ; Proverbs 10:31 , Proverbs 10:32 ; Proverbs 16:28 , Proverbs 16:30 . Not the same as elsewhere in Proverbs.
soweth = casteth forth [as seed].
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:
six things. Epitomising verses: Proverbs 6:12-14 ( App-10 ).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Yea, seven. Figure of speech Epanorthosis. App-6 . To imply that the list is not exhausted.
abomination. See note on Proverbs 3:32 .
unto Him = unto His soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
17.
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
A proud look = eyes lifted up. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , put for pride, which is indicated by this act. This is the first, and the others proceed downward; "eyes", "tongue", "hands", "heart", "feet", and then the whole man.
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.
them. This is masculine, and cannot refer to the two, above. Does it refer to the "words" and "sayings" of Proverbs 4:20 ?
22.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
it = she: referring to the "commandment" or "law" of Proverbs 6:20 , which are feminine.
sleepest = liest down.
talk = commune. Three, the number of Divine completeness ( App-10 ). Not four (as some suppose) and one "dropped out"!
23.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
law is light. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), v. torah 'or. In Latin it would be similar: Lex est lux.
reproofs of instruction = what is directed. Compare Proverbs 6:20 .
way of life = way to life: i.e. life eternal. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .
24.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
strange woman = alien, or foreign woman. Hebrew. nakar. See note on Proverbs 5:3 .
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 adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
the . . . life = the soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
27.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Can a man . . . ? Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 .
take = shovel up.
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;
despise. Hebrew. buz (from bazah), is here followed by (-L) = for. Render it therefore: "Men will not think it a trifle (or a light matter) for a thief that he should steal: [even] to satisfy", &c. . . . So if he be found, &c.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
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: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
But whoso = How much more he who.
understanding. Hebrew = heart: put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for understanding.
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.
a man = a strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 . Here, it is used of the jealous husband.
35.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.