Proverbs 6:2 kjv

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Proverbs 6:2 nkjv

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

Proverbs 6:2 niv

you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.

Proverbs 6:2 esv

if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

Proverbs 6:2 nlt

if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
and are caught by what you said ?

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 2 Meaning

Proverbs 6:2 states that an individual can become trapped or entangled by the promises and declarations made with their own mouth, particularly concerning financial obligations like acting as a surety for a neighbor. It highlights the serious and binding nature of spoken words, equating them to a snare or a capture. The verse implies self-inflicted difficulty arising from unguarded or ill-considered speech, leading to a state of being bound by one's own utterance.

Proverbs 6 2 Context

Proverbs 6:2 stands as the second verse in a warning passage (Pro 6:1-5) concerning the dangers of suretyship, which is the act of co-signing a loan or guaranteeing someone else's debt. This section is part of the "father-to-son" admonitions found throughout the early chapters of Proverbs (chapters 1-9), offering practical wisdom for living a godly and prosperous life. Historically, ancient societies often involved social pledges and financial agreements sealed by spoken word or handshake. There were no elaborate legal documents in the modern sense, so an oral agreement or handshake carried significant legal and social weight. The emphasis here is on the severe consequence of a thoughtless verbal commitment, especially in financial matters. It implicitly contrasts the wisdom of self-control and prudent judgment with the folly of rash promises.

Proverbs 6 2 Word analysis

• Thou art snared (נֹוקֵשׁ - nokesh): This is a participle derived from the root יָקוֹשׁ (yaqosh), meaning "to lay a snare, to set a trap," or "to catch, to hunt." It implies being caught in a hunter's trap, caught unawares, and immobilized. The passive form emphasizes that the individual becomes trapped, a consequence of their own action. It suggests a situation from which it is difficult to escape independently.
• by the words (בְּאִמְרֵי - b’imre): "Words" (אִמְרָה - imrah) refers to a saying, utterance, or speech. The preposition "by" (בְּ - be) indicates the means or instrument through which the snaring occurs. It directly attributes the entrapment to what was spoken.
• of thy mouth (פִיךָ - picha): "Mouth" (פֶּה - peh) is the organ of speech, emphasizing that the spoken words originated from the person themselves. It underscores the personal responsibility for the utterance.
• thou art taken (נִלְכַּדְתָּ - nilkadta): This verb comes from לָכַד (lakad), meaning "to seize, to capture, to catch, to entrap." While similar to "snared," lakad can imply a more direct capture or seizing, often in a battle or by force. Here, it is used reflexively, indicating that one has allowed oneself to be seized or captured by their own doing. It reinforces the idea of being utterly caught and helpless, like an animal seized by a hunter.
• by the words (בְּאִמְרֵי - b’imre): Repetition of "by the words," reinforcing the specific instrument of capture.
• of thy mouth (פִיךָ - picha): Repetition of "of thy mouth," reinforcing the self-inflicted nature.

Words-group analysis:

• "Thou art snared... thou art taken": The parallel structure and use of two distinct but complementary verbs emphasize the inescapable and self-imposed nature of the predicament. "Snared" depicts the initial trap, "taken" highlights the full capture, a doubled emphasis on complete entrapment. This serves as a strong rhetorical warning.
• "by the words of thy mouth" (repeated): The repetition drives home the central point: the speaker's own verbal commitments are the direct cause of their entanglement. It's a powerful statement about the accountability tied to one's spoken word, especially in legally binding agreements like suretyship.

Proverbs 6 2 Bonus section

The Hebrew parallelism in Proverbs 6:2 uses synonymous parallelism, where the second line reiterates the thought of the first but uses different words to deepen or slightly nuance the meaning. This rhetorical device amplifies the warning about the binding nature of spoken words. The consequences described are immediate and direct, demanding urgent action, as elaborated in Proverbs 6:3-5, which calls for immediate diligence to free oneself from the self-imposed obligation. The imagery of a "snare" and being "taken" derives from the hunter's domain, making the danger concrete and understandable to an agricultural society, portraying the one ensnared as prey to their own unguarded speech. This verse implicitly sets a high standard for verbal integrity and self-control, crucial for maintaining wisdom's path.

Proverbs 6 2 Commentary

Proverbs 6:2 profoundly warns against the perilous trap of rash and ill-considered promises, specifically in the context of guaranteeing another's debt. The vivid imagery of being "snared" and "taken" by one's own words portrays a self-imposed prison, emphasizing the binding and difficult consequences of oral commitments in a society where spoken word held legal weight. It is not merely a caution against literal financial agreements but extends to all commitments made without wisdom. The verse calls for integrity, foresight, and restraint in speech, teaching that one's uttered words carry significant power to establish either freedom or bondage.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • A person casually promises a significant donation to a charity without first checking their finances.
  • Someone hastily agrees to lead an ambitious project at work, then realizes they lack the necessary time or resources to complete it.
  • Committing to a volunteer position or family obligation without fully understanding the demands involved.