Proverbs 20:16 kjv

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

Proverbs 20:16 nkjv

Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

Proverbs 20:16 niv

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

Proverbs 20:16 esv

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

Proverbs 20:16 nlt

Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

Proverbs 20 verses

Proverbs 20 16 Meaning

Proverbs 20:16 delivers a stern warning against engaging in or extending credit based on foolish suretyship. It advises a lender or creditor to demand tangible collateral, specifically the garment, from anyone who dares to guarantee the debt of an unreliable individual, such as a "stranger" (one unknown or untrustworthy) or, even worse, an "adulteress" (a morally corrupt or foreign woman whose associations inevitably lead to ruin). The severity of taking one's vital garment as a pledge underscores the extreme financial risk involved with such a guarantor. The proverb acts as practical counsel to protect oneself from being entrapped by someone else's poor judgment and impending financial collapse.

Proverbs 20 16 Context

Proverbs chapter 20 comprises a collection of independent maxims offering practical wisdom for daily life, touching on themes such as justice, honesty, prudence, diligence, and the dangers of folly. Verse 16 fits squarely within the chapter's warnings concerning financial prudence and avoiding entanglement in risky ventures. Immediately surrounding verses offer varied wisdom, from the warning against too much wine (v. 1), to the importance of truth in judging (v. 8), and the call for honesty in business (v. 10).

Historically, in ancient Israel and the broader ancient Near East, suretyship was a common practice, but fraught with risk. It involved guaranteeing the debt or obligation of another, and if the primary debtor defaulted, the surety was legally bound to pay. This practice could easily lead to financial ruin, hence the consistent strong warnings against it throughout Proverbs. The "garment" (or cloak) was not merely a piece of clothing; for many, especially the poor, it served as both shelter at night and a critical item. Using it as a pledge was a significant transaction, regulated by Mosaic Law which mandated its return by nightfall for the poor (Exo 22:26-27). However, here, it emphasizes the ultimate collateral demanded from a foolhardy surety. The "stranger" and "adulteress" represented not merely social outcasts, but archetypes of individuals who lead others to spiritual, moral, and financial downfall within the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. The "adulteress" (Hebrew: nakriyyah) or "strange woman" (Hebrew: zar) often symbolized not just sexual promiscuity, but also folly, ungodliness, and deception, steering one away from the path of wisdom and integrity, resulting in severe consequences.

Proverbs 20 16 Word analysis

• Take his garment (Laqaḥ begedô):
  • Take (לָקַח, Laqaḥ): An imperative verb meaning to take, seize, or acquire. It conveys a strong command or urgent advice to secure oneself against loss.
  • His garment (בֶּגֶד, beged): Refers to one's cloak or outer garment. In ancient society, this was often a person's most valuable possession, frequently used as collateral for loans. To demand someone's garment as a pledge highlights the extreme risk and the necessity of securing solid collateral. This specific phrase implies the lender should demand collateral from the surety, knowing the high likelihood of default.
• who is surety for (ʿŌrēb):
  • Surety (עָרַב, ʿārab): To guarantee a debt, be responsible for, or stand as collateral. The term indicates someone who takes on the financial obligation of another. Proverbs consistently warns against this practice due to the inherent dangers and common outcomes of financial ruin.
• a stranger (Zār):
  • Stranger (זָר, zār): Can mean one who is foreign, an outsider, unknown, or one who is illicit/promiscuous/morally alien. In the context of Proverbs, this often signifies someone unreliable, untrustworthy, or engaged in dangerous and potentially ruinous behavior. Their nature makes any suretyship for them highly speculative.
• And hold it in pledge (Ḥabliyēhū):
  • Hold in pledge (חָבֹל, ḥābal): To seize or hold something as security for a debt. This reinforces the previous phrase, emphasizing the vital importance of securing a tangible asset as collateral when dealing with such high-risk situations. It's not just to take, but to hold as security, indicating an act of retaining due to the surety's poor judgment.
• when he is surety for (Baʿărōbō):
  • Repetition of the phrase "is surety for," intensifying the scenario and driving home the point that the very act of guaranteeing such individuals carries grave danger.
• an adulteress (Nākriyyā):
  • Adulteress (נָכְרִיָּה, nākriyyā): Literally means "foreign woman." In Proverbs, this term, often interchangeable with zar (stranger/strange woman) in moral contexts, specifically refers to an immoral or unchaste woman who seduces others. Association with such a person implies not just financial danger but also moral degradation and ruin. This term amplifies the risk described by "stranger," presenting an even more dire and almost guaranteed scenario of loss for the one acting as surety. The one who becomes surety for her is truly a fool.

Proverbs 20 16 Bonus section

This proverb's direct address to "take his garment" serves as a counter-balance to the Mosaic Laws concerning pledges. While Mosaic Law (Exo 22:26-27; Deut 24:10-13) protected the poor, mandating the return of their necessary garments by night, this proverb operates in a different sphere: that of prudential wisdom rather than legal command. It emphasizes the financial folly of suretyship, particularly for high-risk individuals. It is not instructing how to take a pledge lawfully, but why one must take a pledge from a person who shows such incredibly poor judgment in being a surety for those destined for financial disaster. The repetition of the warning (virtually identical in Prov 27:13) underscores its gravity and the frequency with which such financial misjudgments occurred, and still do. It suggests that associating with the "adulteress" (representing moral and financial recklessness) makes one just as untrustworthy in financial matters.

Proverbs 20 16 Commentary

Proverbs 20:16 delivers a pointed financial maxim aimed at prudent management of resources and protection against foolish judgment, both one's own and that of others. The verse addresses the creditor or lender, advising them to take the garment as collateral from anyone so imprudent as to act as surety for an untrustworthy individual—categorized as a "stranger" or, more emphatically, an "adulteress." The term "stranger" refers to someone unreliable, whose character or financial standing is dubious. The "adulteress," often personifying folly in Proverbs, represents the epitome of dangerous associations that lead to ruin—moral, social, and crucially, financial. Her affairs and lifestyle are almost certainly financially draining, making any guarantee for her debt a sure path to loss.

The command "take his garment" is severe because a garment was a crucial, sometimes life-sustaining, possession in ancient times. Demanding it as a pledge signifies an extreme measure to mitigate extreme risk. It implies that the one foolish enough to be a surety for such a character is guaranteed to suffer financial ruin himself, therefore, the creditor must secure compensation directly from the surety beforehand. This proverb serves as a stark warning to evaluate the character and reliability not just of the primary debtor, but also of anyone offering to guarantee their debt, especially if that guarantee comes from someone whose judgment is clearly compromised by their willingness to underwrite high-risk, morally questionable individuals. The essence of the verse is: if someone shows such poor judgment as to become entangled with financially destructive people, do not trust their word, demand concrete security from them.

• Practical Usage:
  • When a friend or family member asks you to co-sign a loan for someone you don't know well or someone with a questionable financial history, recall this proverb's warning about the "stranger."
  • If a person consistently associates with those known for extravagant, irresponsible, or immoral living, be extremely cautious about any financial dealings, even indirect ones, with them or anyone who vouchsafes for them.
  • Understand that one's associations can profoundly impact their judgment and reliability, making suretyship for them a high-risk endeavor.