Proverbs 6:3 kjv

Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Proverbs 6:3 nkjv

So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

Proverbs 6:3 niv

So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go?to the point of exhaustion? and give your neighbor no rest!

Proverbs 6:3 esv

then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

Proverbs 6:3 nlt

follow my advice and save yourself,
for you have placed yourself at your friend's mercy.
Now swallow your pride;
go and beg to have your name erased.

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 3 Meaning

Proverbs 6:3 issues an urgent directive to an individual who has foolishly guaranteed another person's debt (surety). It commands immediate, proactive, and humbling action to free oneself from this dangerous commitment. The essence is to set aside pride and diligently work with the person for whom one stood surety to rectify the situation before it leads to ruinous consequences.

Proverbs 6 3 Context

Proverbs 6:3 is part of an admonition against the perilous act of standing as surety for a neighbor, introduced in Proverbs 6:1-2. The passage outlines a scenario where someone has pledged their word or assets for another's debt, thereby becoming "ensnared" or "trapped." Verse 3 then immediately provides the required response to escape this self-made trap, emphasizing the extreme urgency and specific actions necessary. The broader context of Proverbs repeatedly warns against folly, idleness, and financial recklessness, encouraging diligence, wisdom, and prudence in all dealings, especially concerning money and relationships. In ancient Israel, such financial commitments were binding and could lead to loss of property or even personal freedom, highlighting the severe danger of suretyship.

Proverbs 6 3 Word analysis

• "Do this" (Hebrew: עֲשֵׂה-זֹאת, ‘aseh-zō't): An imperative verb, directly commanding an immediate action. It refers to the radical and immediate steps to be taken as a solution to the predicament described in the preceding verses.
• "my son" (Hebrew: בְּנִי, bĕnī): A common endearing address throughout Proverbs, signifying the intimate relationship between the wise teacher (often personified as a father) and the student (the son), emphasizing loving guidance and earnest instruction.
• "and deliver yourself" (Hebrew: וְהִנָּצֵל, wĕhinnāṣēl): From the root nāṣal (נצל), meaning "to snatch away," "deliver," "rescue." The Hithpael form here is reflexive, emphasizing personal responsibility to "rescue oneself" or "escape" the entrapment. It conveys the life-or-death urgency of the situation.
• "for you have come into the hand of your friend" (Hebrew: כִּי בָאתָ בְכַף-רֵעֶךָ, kî bā’tā’ bĕkhaph-rē‘eḵā):
  • "Hand" (כַּף, kaph): Literally "palm," metaphorically signifies power, control, or subjection. To be "in the hand of" implies being under someone's control or at their mercy.
  • "Friend" (רֵעֶךָ, rē‘eḵā): Refers to a companion, neighbor, or acquaintance. In this context, it is the person for whom one stood as surety, not necessarily a benevolent relationship in this specific financial predicament. The ensnared party is at the mercy of this friend's actions or inaction regarding the debt.
• "Go," (Hebrew: לֵךְ, lēkh): A simple, direct imperative, signaling immediate physical action and movement towards addressing the problem.
• "humble yourself," (Hebrew: הִתְרַפֵּס, hitrappēs): From the root rāphas (רפס), which means "to trample" or "to soil." In the Hithpael stem (as used here), it means "to abase oneself," "to prostrate oneself," "to be trampled down," "to show submission," or "to cringe." This word implies an extreme act of humility, putting aside all pride, social standing, or dignity to resolve the issue. It suggests earnest supplication and possibly even begging for release.
• "and plead with your friend." (Hebrew: וּרְהַב רֵעֶךָ, wūrĕhab rē‘eḵā):
  • "Plead" (רְהַב, rĕhab): From the root rāhab (רהב), meaning "to act insolently," "to be violent," "to urge vehemently," "to importune," or "to assault." In the Piel form here, it suggests insistent, forceful, urgent, and perhaps even relentless persuasion. It is not a polite request but an urgent, demanding appeal to the friend, to settle the debt or somehow free the guarantor. This word choice conveys the gravity and desperate urgency of the situation.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Do this, my son, and deliver yourself": A direct, urgent command from mentor to student for immediate self-preservation from a self-inflicted danger.
  • "for you have come into the hand of your friend": Explains the severe nature of the predicament, underscoring why such drastic action is required – the surety's freedom and well-being are now dependent on another.
  • "Go, humble yourself, and plead with your friend": Three short, powerful imperatives that prescribe the method of escape: immediate movement, radical humility, and persistent, insistent petitioning. These actions show a complete disregard for pride in the face of financial peril.

Proverbs 6 3 Bonus section

• This passage demonstrates the Bible's practical wisdom, directly addressing common ancient (and modern) financial pitfalls with tangible, albeit uncomfortable, advice.
• The counsel to "humble yourself" and "plead" underscores that wisdom often requires setting aside ego and engaging in difficult conversations or actions for one's deliverance.
• While primarily addressing financial suretyship, the underlying principles of swift action, humility, and diligent effort to undo foolish commitments have broad applications in various life situations.
• The "friend" is not necessarily malevolent, but their potential failure to repay the loan puts the guarantor in extreme jeopardy, thus the urgent, demanding approach. The objective is to ensure the primary debt is paid by any means, thus relieving the surety.

Proverbs 6 3 Commentary

Proverbs 6:3 offers a stark, no-nonsense solution for those caught in the snare of suretyship. The urgency conveyed ("Do this...deliver yourself") demands swift action without delay. The core message is that pride and social standing must be utterly set aside to escape the devastating consequences of financial folly. "Humble yourself" means accepting one's humiliating position and being willing to appear weak or desperate, even to grovel if necessary, before the person for whom one gave surety. "Plead with your friend" is equally intense, calling for relentless, perhaps even aggressive, importuning, not stopping until a resolution is reached—be it the friend paying the debt or somehow releasing the ensnared party from the obligation. This counsel applies broadly to any situation where a foolish commitment threatens one's well-being, demanding immediate, humility-laden, and persistent effort to rectify the mistake. It emphasizes taking personal responsibility to escape a self-imposed trap rather than hoping for a passive solution.