Proverbs 22:26

We have here, as often before, a caution against suretiship, as a thing both imprudent and unjust. 1. We must not associate ourselves, nor contract an intimacy, with men of broken fortunes, and reputations, who need and will urge their friends to be bound for them, that they may cheat their neighbours to feed their lusts, and by keeping up a little longer may do the more damage at last to those that give them credit. Have nothing to do with such; be not thou among them. 2. We must not cheat people of their money, by striking hands ourselves, or becoming surety for others, when we have not to pay. If a man by the divine providence is disabled to pay his debts, he ought to be pitied and helped; but he that takes up money or goods himself, or is bound for another, when he knows that he has not wherewithal to pay, or that what he has is so settled that the creditors cannot come at it, does in effect pick his neighbour's pocket, and though, in all cases, compassion is to be used, yet he may thank himself if the law have its course and his bed be taken from under him, which might be taken for a pledge to secure a debt, Exo 22:26, Exo 22:27. For, if a man appeared to be so poor that he had nothing else to give for security, he ought to be relieved, and it was honestly done to own it; but, for the recovery of a debt, it seems it might be taken by the summum jus - the strict operation of law. 3. We must not ruin our own estates and families. Every man ought to be just to himself and to his wife and children; those are not so who live above what they have, who by the mismanagement of their own affairs, or by encumbering themselves with debts of others, waste what they have and bring themselves to poverty. We may take joyfully the spoiling of our goods if it be for the testimony of a good conscience; but, if be for our own rashness and folly, we cannot but take it heavily.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Pro 22:26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.

Ver. 26. Be not thou of them.] {See Trapp on "Pro 6:1"} {See Trapp on "Pro 6:2"} {See Trapp on "Pro 6:3"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 22:26-27. Be not of them that are sureties for debts — Namely, rashly or unnecessarily. Why should he take away thy bed, &c. — Why wilt thou put thyself into the hands of such a man, who will exact the debt from thee without compassion? For though God did not allow the practice of taking and keeping a poor person’s bed, or necessary clothing, (see Exo 22:26-27,) yet covetous creditors would frequently do it.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers 26, 27. A warning against suretyship, often repeated. Be not thou one of them that strike hands; i.e. that become guarantees for others. (see Pro_17:18 Pro_20:16; and comp. Pro_6:1 Pro_11:15) Sureties for debts. The writer explains what kind of guarantee he means. Why should he (the creditor) take away thy bed from under thee? Why should you ("from respect of person." Septuagint) act so weakly as to give a creditor power to seize your very bed as a pledge? The Law endeavoured to mitigate this penalty. (Exo_22:26, 27 Deu_24:12, Deu_24:13) But doubtless its merciful provisions were evaded by the moneylenders (see on Neh_5:11 Eze_18:12, "hath not restored the pledge").

Vers. 26, 27. See homily on Pro_26:1-5. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_22:26-27

SURETYSHIP AND ITS DANGERS

I. A command to avoid a perilous habit. We cannot, in the light of the spirit of Bible teaching—especially that of the New Testament—regard this proverb as forbidding all suretyship. It cannot mean that one honest man when he has ample means at his command is never to become security for another man of honesty. We know that there are cases in which it is the greatest kindness that one friend can do another, and that it is often the means of giving a poor or unfortunate brother a fair start in life. We are commanded to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal_6:2), and “to do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal_6:10), and this is sometimes the most effectual way of carrying out these precepts. But Solomon here warns men against the unwisdom of choosing for companions those men whose habit it is lightly to become a surety for another—who lend their name and credit without considering the responsibility they undertake or asking themselves whether they are doing any real good to the person they oblige. Although it may be a man’s duty sometimes to become a surety for another it is perilous and wrong to make it a habit of life, and thereby encourage thriftlessness and perhaps dishonesty.

II. A warning as to the probable consequences of such a habit. Solomon regards it as certain that a man who habitually becomes a “surety for debt” will come to ruin. This is obvious if we reflect that for one honest man who asks such a favour there are twenty who have little or no moral sense in such a matter; that although a good and true man is often found in circumstances of such need, the great majority who are so found are rogues.

For an illustration and comments on this subject see on Chap. Pro_6:1, page 76, and page 216. Also Homiletics on Chap. Pro_20:16, page 589.

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

We are commanded to “love our neighbour as ourselves;” but to do for him what might expose us to having our very bed sold from under us, is to love him better than ourselves, which is a step beyond the Divine injunction. Wardlaw.

Seeing by taking suretyship upon him, he put himself under the creditor, and made himself to be, as it were, the bed on which the trust of others did rest, and seeing by not paying he hath taken away the creditor from the bed of his rest, it is but like for like if the creditor take away his bed from under him. And yet the wise man asking the question seemeth to me to imply in some sort that he should not do it. For though the other doth justly deserve it, yet in so much need let mercy spare.—Jermin.

For Homiletics on Pro_22:28 see on chap. Pro_23:10, page 666.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

Avoid contention, not only with angry, but with imprudent, perhaps unprincipled associates. Strike not your hands†1 as a surety, without forethought, perhaps without upright principle. Repeated warnings have been given of this danger.†2 Striking hands for a friend is often striking, and even wounding, our own hearts. The putting your hand to a bill may be almost signing a warrant for your own execution. At all events it is a fraud to give security for more than you are worth; promising what you are unable to perform. The creditor may fairly in this case proceed to extremities†3 — not with the debtor (whom he knows to be worth nothing, and whom indeed the law of God protected†4) — but with the surety. And why — the wise man asks — shouldest thou rashly incur beggary and ruin, so as to have the bed taken from under thee?

There is, however, so much danger of erring in over-caution, and of indulging selfishness under the cover of prudence, that these wholesome cautions must be considerately applied. Yet, in "devising liberal things" (Isa 32:8 ), we must combine scrupulous regard to justice and truth (Php 4:8 ); else our very charity will prove the scandal, instead of the glory, of our profession.†5 ’We may "take joyfully the spoiling of our goods," for the testimony of a good conscience. But as the fruit of our own rashness and folly, we cannot but take it heavily.’†6 Oh! let our Divine Master be honored in our profession; by well-doing "putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men."†7

Footnotes:

†1 Pro 6:1.

†2 Pro 22:1-2; Pro 11:15 ; Pro 17:18 .

†3 Pro 20:16.

†4 Exo 22:26-27. Deu 24:12-13 .

†5 Rom 14:16. 1Ti 5:22 . Heb 12:13 .

†6 Heb 10:34. Henry in loco.

†7 1Pe 2:12, 1Pe 2:15 ; 1Pe 3:16 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22:26-27 Saying 3: The message of this proverb is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which rashly put themselves in danger for others, as Prov. 6:2.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(Compare Pro 6:1; Pro 17:18).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. That strike hands] See on the parallel texts in the margin.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(26) Be not thou one of them that strike hands.—Another warning against suretiship. (See above, on Pro_6:1.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. strike hands] i.e. as a surety. See Pro_6:1 note.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Be not thou one of them that strike hands,.... Or "among them" (m), of the number of them, that do as they do, give their hand or their bond for others; he surety for them, as it is explained in the following clause; see Pro 6:1;

or of them that are sureties for debts; contracted by others; that engage for the payment of them, in case the principal fails: and it is much if persons that keep indifferent company, angry and furious men, who are often in broils and quarrels, and spend their time and substance in strife and contention, are not drawn into engagements of this kind.

(m) "inter", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Strike hands - i. e., Bind themselves as surety for what another owes (compare the margin reference).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Hands. Engaging to stand bond. (Haydock) (Chap. vi. 1.) --- Such a one might be required to pay the debt, chap. xx. 16.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

To wit, rashly, or unnecessarily.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26, 27. If thou hast nothing — The subject of suretyship has been treated before. (See Pro_6:1; Pro_11:15.) The case here presented seems to be that of a man becoming security for another who has little or nothing for himself. Such a man practices a fraud upon the creditor party.

Take… bed — Among the Hebrews, notwithstanding the old law seemed to be otherwise, (Exo_22:27,) even the bed, which was often only a coverlet, or a piece of coarse cloth, and not indispensable, could be taken for debt. But it is probable that this rigour was seldom practised. In this case the creditor, being imposed upon, is represented as possibly taking even the bed. Why should a man be so careless of his own and his family’s welfare as thus to expose himself? The question implies that it is sinful folly. Compare Pro_20:16; Pro_6:1-4; Pro_11:15; Pro_17:18.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A third distich follows:

26 Be not among those who strike hands,

Among those who become surety for loans.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay,

Why shall he take away thy bed from under thee?

To strike hands is equivalent to, to be responsible to any one for another, to stake one's goods and honour for him, Pro 6:1; Pro 11:15; Pro 17:18 - in a word, ערב, seq. acc., to pledge oneself for him (Gen 43:9), or for the loan received by him, משּׁאה, Deu 24:10 (from השּׁה, with ב, of the person and accus. of the thing: to lend something to one on interest). The proverb warns against being one of such sureties (write בּערבים with Cod. 1294, and old impressions such as the Venice, 1521), against acting as they do; for why wouldest thou come to this, that when thou cast not pay (שׁלּם, to render a full equivalent reckoning, and, generally, to pay, Pro 6:31),

(Note: After Ben-Asher, the pointing is אם־אין־לך; while, on the contrary, Ben-Naphtali prefers אם־אין לך; vid., my Genesis (1869), pp. 74 (under Gen 1:3) and 81. So, without any bearing on the sense, Ben-Asher points למּה with Tarcha, Ben-Naphtali with Mercha.)

he (the creditor) take away thy bed from under thee? - for, as Pro 20:16 says, thus improvident suretyships are wont to be punished.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

v. 26. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, by hastily pledging himself for the debts of another, or of them that, in a frivolous manner, are sureties for debts.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

These verses continue the "thirty sayings" (Proverbs 22:20).

strikes hands

A person would strike his hand against another person's hand to bind himself to do what he had agreed to do. Here the speaker warns the hearer not to strike hands as a way to promise to pay off someone's debts.

in making a pledge

"and agree to pay what someone owes to another person"

translationWords

pledge

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Do not be one of those who give their hands, who stand surety for debts Loans, as in (Deut. 24: 10), “When you lend you fellow [Jew] any item.”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.