Proverbs 22:26 kjv
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Proverbs 22:26 nkjv
Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;
Proverbs 22:26 niv
Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
Proverbs 22:26 esv
Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.
Proverbs 22:26 nlt
Don't agree to guarantee another person's debt
or put up security for someone else.
Proverbs 22 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 6:1-5 | My son, if you become surety for your neighbor... escape like a gazelle... | Direct warning against suretyship. |
| Prov 11:15 | Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but he who hates suretyship is safe. | Strong warning on the danger of suretyship. |
| Prov 17:18 | One who lacks sense gives a pledge and becomes surety... | Connects suretyship to lack of wisdom. |
| Prov 20:16 | Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger... | Consequences of suretyship, implying loss of possessions. |
| Prov 27:13 | Take his garment when he puts up security for a stranger... | Reiterates the consequence for foolish suretyship. |
| Prov 13:18 | Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction... | Wisdom prevents poverty through obedience. |
| Prov 14:15 | The simple believes everything, but the prudent considers his steps. | Prudence in financial dealings. |
| Prov 21:5 | The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. | Diligence vs. haste in financial matters. |
| Prov 24:3-4 | By wisdom a house is built... | Financial stability rooted in wisdom. |
| Prov 28:20 | A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. | Warns against get-rich-quick schemes, similar spirit of risk. |
| 1 Tim 5:8 | If anyone does not provide for his relatives... he has denied the faith. | Responsibility to provide for one's own, not jeopardizing it. |
| 2 Cor 12:14 | ...children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | Emphasizes responsibility for one's direct dependents. |
| Deut 28:43-44 | The sojourner... shall rise higher and higher, and you shall sink lower and lower. He shall lend to you... | Warns of consequences of becoming debtor rather than lender. |
| Prov 22:7 | The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | Warns against the subjugation inherent in debt. |
| Ps 37:21 | The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. | Distinguishes character related to debt and generosity. |
| Prov 14:23 | In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. | Encourages practical, productive work, not reckless promises. |
| Luke 16:10-12 | One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much... | Prudence with resources, however small. |
| Matt 6:25-33 | Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink... seek first the kingdom of God... | Trusts God for provision, not rash human agreements. |
| Rom 13:8 | Owe no one anything, except to love one another... | General principle of avoiding debt. |
| Phil 4:19 | My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | Reliance on God for needs, not risky human guarantees. |
Proverbs 22 verses
Proverbs 22 26 Meaning
Proverbs 22:26 admonishes against the practice of becoming a financial guarantor or surety for another person's debt. It is a clear warning against financially pledging oneself to cover another's obligations, thereby assuming significant and dangerous risk that could lead to one's own impoverishment or ruin. The verse stresses the wisdom of avoiding entanglement in others' financial liabilities.
Proverbs 22 26 Context
Proverbs 22:26 is part of a larger section within the book of Proverbs (generally 22:17–24:34) known as "Sayings of the Wise." This collection offers practical advice for living a righteous and prudent life in various aspects, including financial integrity, justice, and social responsibility. This particular verse falls within a series of admonitions (22:20-29) concerning upright conduct, avoiding the oppression of the poor, diligence in work, and honest dealings. It immediately precedes a warning against altering property boundaries (v. 28) and an encouragement for skilled labor (v. 29), grounding wisdom in tangible, practical actions that ensure personal and communal stability. In ancient Israelite society, financial agreements and the custom of suretyship were common. The consequences of defaulting on debts or failing as a guarantor could be severe, potentially leading to the loss of property, freedom (through temporary servitude), or destitution for oneself and one's family. Thus, the proverb serves as a crucial piece of financial counsel designed to protect an individual and their household from financial ruin.
Proverbs 22 26 Word analysis
- Be not: (Hebrew: אַל-תְּהִי - ‘al-tehi) - This is a strong, negative imperative in Hebrew, meaning "Do not be!" or "You shall not be!" It expresses an absolute prohibition or a very firm warning, indicating that this practice is to be entirely avoided.
- among those who give pledges / strike hands: (Hebrew: בְּתֹקְעֵי-כָף - be-toqe‘ey-kaph) - Literally, "among those who strike the palm/hand." This refers to the ancient Near Eastern custom of shaking or striking hands to seal a verbal agreement or covenant. In this context, it specifically denotes the action of formally agreeing to be a guarantor or surety for another's debt, signifying commitment to the obligation.
- or among those who are sureties: (Hebrew: בַּעַרְבֵי - ba-‘arvey) - From the root ‘arav, meaning "to mix, mingle, become surety, guarantee." This refers directly to the role of a guarantor or someone who takes on responsibility for another's financial obligation. It highlights the nature of the role – someone who becomes entangled or mixed in with another's debt.
- for debts: (Hebrew: מַשָּׁאוֹת - massa'ot) - The plural form of massa', which can mean a "burden," "load," or "obligation." In this financial context, it clearly denotes a "debt" or "loan" that one is liable for.
- "those who give pledges, or among those who are sureties for debts": The pairing of "those who strike hands" with "those who are sureties for debts" serves to comprehensively cover all aspects of the act of guaranteeing a loan. "Striking hands" refers to the specific physical action and solemnization of the agreement, while "sureties for debts" describes the ongoing legal and financial burden or obligation undertaken. Together, they form a robust prohibition against any form of becoming financially responsible for another's significant obligations. This redundancy in wording underscores the extreme folly and severe consequences associated with such a practice. The dual phrasing emphasizes both the initial dangerous commitment and the resultant perilous state of financial entanglement.
Proverbs 22 26 Bonus section
- This proverb does not forbid generous acts of charity or even lending money directly to those in need (Deut 15:7-8, Ps 112:5). The critical distinction is between extending aid (which still requires wisdom) and formal suretyship, which puts one's entire financial future at the mercy of another's financial discipline and success.
- The New Testament, while not explicitly re-stating the suretyship warning, echoes the principle of financial responsibility, avoiding debt (Rom 13:8), and ensuring one can provide for their own household (1 Tim 5:8). The spirit of the Proverbs is about avoiding entanglements that jeopardize one's ability to be a faithful steward of God's resources.
- The warning reflects a realistic understanding of human nature and economic realities in any age: unforeseen circumstances can lead debtors to default, leaving the guarantor with the full, unanticipated burden.
Proverbs 22 26 Commentary
Proverbs 22:26 is a vital piece of wisdom regarding financial prudence, urging believers to completely avoid becoming a surety or guarantor for another's debt. The wisdom writers recognized this as an extremely high-risk venture, potentially leading to devastating personal financial ruin. While it might appear as an act of charity or friendship, assuming the debt of another exposes one's own resources, and potentially one's family's well-being, to the actions or failures of the primary debtor over whom the guarantor has no control. The proverb isn't a general condemnation of giving aid or helping others; rather, it specifically warns against a legal entanglement that directly binds one's assets to another's obligations, placing them in peril. True Christian charity often involves direct giving within one's means, rather than undertaking perilous financial liabilities that could lead to one's own destitution or a broken testimony. This teaching promotes foresight, responsibility, and stability, advocating for the protection of one's household and resources against preventable financial collapse. For instance, instead of co-signing a large loan for a friend, a wiser act of help might be to offer a gift of a smaller, affordable sum that one can truly afford to lose, or help them find other responsible means of support that do not endanger one's own solvency.