Proverbs 6:1 kjv

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Proverbs 6:1 nkjv

My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

Proverbs 6:1 niv

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

Proverbs 6:1 esv

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,

Proverbs 6:1 nlt

My child, if you have put up security for a friend's debt
or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger ?

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 1 Meaning

Proverbs 6:1 warns against the imprudent and risky act of becoming a guarantor or co-signer for another person's debt, particularly emphasizing the heightened danger when pledging for an unfamiliar individual. The verse describes this commitment using the imagery of a solemn agreement sealed by a handshake, highlighting its binding and perilous nature. It conveys a strong counsel for financial caution and discernment.

Proverbs 6 1 Context

Proverbs chapter 6 marks the beginning of a new section in the book, transitioning from general exhortations of wisdom to specific warnings against folly, structured as a father's direct instruction to his son. This verse, Proverbs 6:1, initiates a detailed segment (6:1-5) focusing entirely on the dangers of suretyship, which was a common commercial practice in ancient Israel and the broader Near East. Culturally, becoming a guarantor meant personally taking on the responsibility for another's debt, often involving pledging one's assets, freedom, or even family members if the primary debtor defaulted. This context highlights the immense practical risk and potential for ruin, aligning the advice with a call for sound financial management and personal freedom from enslavement to debt.

Proverbs 6 1 Word analysis

• My son (בְּנִ֗י, b'ni): A tender and personal address used throughout Proverbs. It signifies the instructional setting of a father imparting crucial life wisdom to his child, indicating authority, affection, and the vital importance of the counsel given. This is not a detached observation but intimate guidance for well-being.
• if (אִם־, ʾim): Introduces a conditional clause, posing a hypothetical scenario. This sets up the potential for a harmful choice, leading to the consequences detailed in subsequent verses (6:2-5).
• you become surety (עָרַ בְתָּ, ʿārabətā): From the root עָרַב ('arav), meaning "to mingle, intermingle, become entangled, guarantee, pledge." It implies taking on responsibility for another's financial obligation, blending one's fate with theirs. This action creates a direct financial and legal bond.
• for your friend (לְרֵעֶ֑ךָ, lə-rēʿeḵā): רֵעַ (re'a) refers to a close companion, neighbor, or acquaintance. While generosity toward a friend might seem noble, the proverb advises caution even here, as the risk to oneself remains substantial regardless of relationship. The emphasis is on the financial burden and its personal cost.
• if you have shaken hands in pledge (תָּקַ עְתָּ, tāqaʿtā): From תָּקַע (taqa), meaning "to thrust, clap, strike, drive in." In this context, it vividly describes the ancient custom of "striking hands" as a public and formal act to seal a binding agreement or a pledge. It signifies a solemn, legal commitment, not a casual promise. It parallels "becoming surety" by illustrating how one typically becomes a surety.
• for a stranger (לַזָּ֑ר, lazzār): זָר (zar) denotes someone who is foreign, an outsider, unknown, or not closely related to one's family or community. Pledging for a stranger is highlighted as particularly foolish because their character, reliability, and financial standing are unknown, making the risk exceptionally high and irrational.

Words-group analysis:

• "My son, if you become surety for your friend": This phrase establishes the intimate paternal counsel while directly addressing the initial, perhaps less obvious, point of caution: even close relationships do not exempt one from the potential pitfalls of financial guarantees. The surety itself, rather than the recipient, is the core issue of concern for the speaker.
• "if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger": This second, parallel clause intensifies the warning. The explicit action of "shaking hands" signifies a binding legal commitment, emphasizing the non-casual nature of the pledge. The distinction between "friend" and "stranger" elevates the risk exponentially, illustrating the spectrum of imprudent generosity that the proverb condemns. Both clauses together underscore the severe and formal commitment that leads to potential ruin, regardless of the relationship with the principal debtor, with greater peril for the unknown.

Proverbs 6 1 Bonus section

The advice in Proverbs 6:1 is part of a larger, coherent unit (verses 1-5) which provides not only a warning but also a prescriptive course of action for extricating oneself from such an unwise pledge. This highlights the seriousness of the error and the urgent need for rectification. The wisdom imparted here is a pragmatic approach to safeguarding one's household and future stability. It emphasizes discernment over blind trust and warns against entangling alliances, economically speaking, that could compromise personal freedom or lead to financial servitude. This counsel underscores that genuine help should be offered in ways that do not imperil one's own foundation, contrasting responsible giving with foolish risk. The proverbs frequently address financial integrity and prudent management as integral components of a wise and blessed life.

Proverbs 6 1 Commentary

Proverbs 6:1 issues a profound caution against the practice of becoming a guarantor for another person's debt, particularly highlighting the heightened risk when dealing with someone unfamiliar. This wisdom goes beyond mere financial advice; it's a principle of self-preservation and responsible stewardship. The passage is not condemning acts of compassion or charitable giving, which are encouraged elsewhere in scripture, but specifically warns against assuming financial liabilities that can lead to personal ruin. It advises prudence over impulsive generosity when financial binding agreements are involved. The two parallel clauses emphasize the common ways such commitments were sealed—by verbal agreement (becoming surety) and by formal, symbolic gesture (shaking hands)—stressing their gravity. Engaging in such pledges, especially for a stranger whose character or solvency is unknown, is portrayed as foolishness that jeopardizes one's own resources, security, and even freedom, as indicated by the subsequent verses in Proverbs 6 that speak of being trapped in a snare.

Practical application:

• Refrain from co-signing loans for acquaintances or even friends without understanding the full implications and potential for personal loss.
• Exercise discernment in all financial promises; your "yes" should mean "yes," but it should be a 'yes' that comes from wisdom, not haste.
• Avoid entering into any agreement that could directly imperil your household or future without exhaustive consideration.