Proverbs 27:13 kjv

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

Proverbs 27:13 nkjv

Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

Proverbs 27:13 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 27:13 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 an adulteress.

Proverbs 27:13 nlt

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

Proverbs 27 verses

Proverbs 27 13 Meaning

Proverbs 27:13 cautions against the folly of guaranteeing the debts or character of unknown or disreputable individuals. It advises a harsh measure—seizing a pledge from such a guarantor—because their rash commitment indicates a lack of wisdom that will inevitably lead to financial loss for themselves and anyone who trusts them. The verse highlights an escalating level of risk: providing surety for a general "stranger" is unwise, but doing so for a "promiscuous woman" represents an even greater, near-certain path to ruin.

Proverbs 27 13 Context

Proverbs chapter 27 is a collection of various standalone proverbs, offering practical wisdom for daily life, often in antithetical or comparative forms. Themes include the importance of sincere counsel (vv. 5-6), the nature of true friendship (vv. 9-10), self-control (v. 2), diligent labor (vv. 23-27), and avoidance of folly (vv. 3, 22). Verse 13 is one of several proverbs warning against the severe financial and relational perils of entering into suretyship for others, especially those who are unreliable or morally questionable. It reflects the practical wisdom required in an ancient Israelite society where social and financial guarantees were common, but also fraught with danger. The proverb highlights the potential for ruin stemming from misguided compassion or overconfidence in one's own resources.

Proverbs 27 13 Word analysis

• Take his garment (קַח בִּגְדוֹ - qakh bigdô):

  • קַח (qakh): "Take," an imperative verb, signifying a direct, urgent command. It denotes decisive and immediate action.
  • בִּגְדוֹ (bigdô): "His garment," referring to an outer cloak. In ancient Israel, a person's outer garment was a crucial possession, serving as both clothing during the day and a blanket at night. According to Mosaic Law (Ex 22:26-27; Dt 24:10-13), a pledge taken from a poor person had to be returned by nightfall, signifying its vital importance. Here, however, taking the garment is not a loan, but a severe form of seizure from one who has made a foolish pledge, reflecting the high risk involved. It is a symbol of total liability.

• surety (עָרַב - 'arav):

  • עָרַב ('arav): The verb means "to give security, be surety for, go bail for." It refers to the act of vouching for another person's debt or obligation, thereby becoming personally liable for their failure. This was a common practice in the ancient Near East, often involving a handshake or pledge.
  • Significance: Proverbs consistently warns against this practice due to the immense financial danger it poses, likening it to entrapping oneself.

• stranger (זָר - zar):

  • זָר (zar): "Strange, foreign, alien." In Proverbs, this term often signifies not merely a foreigner but someone who is morally distant, untrustworthy, unreliable, or outside of one's immediate kin/community responsibility. They are not necessarily malicious, but unknown and therefore high risk.
  • Significance: Acting as surety for a zar is highly reckless due to the lack of personal knowledge regarding their character, reliability, or solvency.

• and hold it in pledge (וְבַעֲבוֹט - vĕ'avaṭ):

  • וְבַעֲבוֹט (vĕ'avaṭ): "And take a pledge for him," derived from the verb 'avaṭ (to pawn, pledge, give security). This reinforces the action of taking a collateral or guarantee, highlighting the severity and legally binding nature of the proposed action.
  • Significance: The instruction isn't merely to "take" the garment, but to hold it as a pledge, implying the full legal right to retain or sell it if the guaranteed debt is not paid.

• immoral woman (נָכְרִיָּה - nokriyah):

  • נָכְרִיָּה (nokriyah): "Foreign woman," often used in Proverbs to describe a woman who is not an Israelite, but also more frequently in the context of one who is promiscuous, seductive, and spiritually alien, leading men astray through immorality. (Often translated as "promiscuous woman," "strange woman," or "adulteress" in this context).
  • Significance: The second clause elevates the folly. While standing surety for any stranger is unwise, doing so for a "promiscuous woman" suggests an even greater degree of foolishness and potential for financial ruin. Such women were often associated with expensive lifestyles and debts (Prov 7:10, 29:3), making the risk of default almost certain and the resulting losses immense.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Take his garment... for a stranger": This initial phrase sets the premise: a general warning against unwise financial guarantees for the unknown. It highlights that the act of suretyship is so risky that if one is foolish enough to enter it, others should immediately secure collateral from them.
  • "and hold it in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman": This intensifies the warning. Not only is the "stranger" an unreliable person, but the "immoral woman" adds a layer of specific danger associated with deceptive charms, moral decay, and significant financial drain. The double suretyship (or an intensified case) signals even greater spiritual and financial peril. The need to hold the garment as a pledge (rather than just 'taking' it) emphasizes the near certainty of loss and the need for stronger security. The two parallel clauses signify that both are highly risky ventures, but the second escalates the level of recklessness and inevitability of loss.

Proverbs 27 13 Bonus section

• Literary Parallelism: The verse employs synonymous parallelism with an intensification. The first part ("Take his garment who is surety for a stranger") states a principle, and the second ("and hold it in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman") reiterates and intensifies it by presenting an even more extreme example of foolish suretyship. This common Proverbial structure deepens the impact of the warning.
• Cultural Severity: For ancient Israel, seizing a man's garment was an act with profound implications, regulated by Mosaic Law to protect the poor. By advising this extreme action in the context of a surety, the proverb implicitly condemns the act of suretyship as akin to stripping oneself of essential security through one's own folly, effectively making oneself poorer than the truly needy.
• Ethical Underpinnings: While appearing harsh, the verse serves a greater ethical purpose: promoting financial integrity and discouraging naive generosity that leads to self-impoverishment, thus undermining one's ability to be genuinely charitable later on. It teaches that true wisdom includes discerning those who are worthy of trust and aid from those who are irresponsible.

Proverbs 27 13 Commentary

Proverbs 27:13 serves as a blunt and vital piece of financial counsel, echoing a frequent theme throughout the book: avoid the folly of suretyship. The verse illustrates the severity of this particular mistake by advocating an extreme measure: confiscating the outer garment, a primary asset, of anyone so unwise as to guarantee the debt of a stranger, and especially for a promiscuous woman. This isn't a commandment for the hearer to act mercilessly, but rather a sharp, metaphorical illustration of the inherent risk and foolishness of the surety. It suggests that such a guarantor is so reckless or lacking in judgment that they are a walking liability, and immediate collateral is necessary to protect any potential lenders from inevitable default. The escalation from "stranger" to "promiscuous woman" highlights a deepening level of imprudence. A stranger's creditworthiness is unknown, but an immoral woman often implied one who lives lavishly and irresponsibly, making her financial dealings extremely hazardous. Therefore, whoever guarantees her debts is utterly devoid of wisdom and should be treated as a high financial risk themselves. The underlying message is discernment: Be wise in your associations and commitments, for the lack of prudence in others can easily become your own undoing.