Proverbs 22:26 — Word Study
WLCאַל־ תְּהִ֥י בְתֹֽקְעֵי־ כָ֑ף בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃
BSADo notʼal [under no circumstances] behâyâh▸ one who gives pledgestâqaʻ [becomes surety for, strikes hands, offers security] who puts up securityʻârab [offers himself as, becomes responsible for, a guarantee, a promise to pay] for debtsmashshâʼâh [loans, financial obligations, burdens]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | may not | Particle |
| תְּהִ֥י | you be | Verb, Qal, jussive second person masculine singular |
| בְתֹֽקְעֵי־ | among [those who] strike | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common |
| כָ֑ף | a palm | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים | among [those who] stand surety for | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃ | debts | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. |
| KJV | Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. |
| ASV | Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. |
| YLT | Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens. |
| WEB | Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts. |
| BBE | Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts: |
All translations agree on the caution against giving pledges.
The main clause clearly states the prohibition, with a participial phrase providing further detail on the type of person being warned against.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 22:26
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Financial Responsibilitygenerated
Proverbs 22:26 advises against becoming a guarantor for someone else's debts, emphasizing the importance of financial prudence. This verse is part of a larger discourse on wise living, where the teacher cautions about the risks of entangling oneself in the financial obligations of others. The surrounding verses reinforce the idea of avoiding snares and maintaining one's own financial stability.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 6:1–5 | My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, |
| 2 | Proverbs 11:15 | He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure. |
| 3 | Proverbs 17:18 | A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor. |
| 4 | Proverbs 27:13 | Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֹרְבִ֗ים, 'or'vimgenerated
The word עָרַב (arab) means to pledge or become surety for another, indicating a commitment to take responsibility for someone else's debts. This verb is used in the context of financial obligations, highlighting the risks involved in such actions.
In this verse, the participle form עֹרְבִ֗ים indicates those who engage in such pledging. The warning is clear: it is unwise to take on the financial burdens of others, as it can lead to personal loss.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with all versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, KJV, and ASV, conveying the same caution against becoming surety for debts.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תְּהִ֥י, you be, governs the structure of the verse, with several phrases elaborating on what one should avoid. The sentence emphasizes the negative imperative, urging the reader not to engage in risky financial behavior.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the prohibition, making it clear that the advice is both urgent and significant.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the concept of surety with ἐγγύην, which conveys a similar meaning of guarantee or pledge. This choice indicates a continuity in the understanding of financial responsibility across translations.
The Greek term reflects the same caution against taking on the debts of others, aligning with the Hebrew warning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 22:26 warns against becoming a guarantor for someone else's debts. The verse advises that one should not take on financial responsibilities that could lead to personal loss. This teaching is part of a broader wisdom literature that emphasizes careful financial practices.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being a surety means taking responsibility for another person's financial obligations, which can lead to significant risk if they fail to pay.
Giving pledges can entangle you in someone else's financial troubles, potentially leading to loss of your own resources.
The verse encourages careful consideration before co-signing loans or guarantees, highlighting the importance of financial prudence.
Alternatives include advising the person on financial responsibility or helping them find resources without taking on the risk yourself.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are the potential consequences of becoming a surety for someone else's debts?
- How can I apply the wisdom of this verse in my own financial decisions?
- What steps can I take to ensure I am not entangled in others' financial obligations?
- In what ways can I support friends or family without assuming financial risk?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Bede reference this verse to discuss the importance of avoiding entanglements in others' financial matters.
Do not be with those who bind their hands, etc. Do not be with those who, though free and keeping themselves available to themselves, bind themselves in the care of the salvation of the wicked,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 22 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 22:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBe not thou [one] of them that strike hands,.... Or "among them" (m), of the number of them, that do as they do, give their hand or their bond for others; he surety for them, as it is explained in
Read John Gill on Proverbs 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBe not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. Debts - literally, burdens.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 22 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 22:26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.Ver. 26. Be not thou of them.]
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) Be not thou one of them that strike hands.—Another warning against suretiship. (See above, on Proverbs 6:1.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 22 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 26. That strike hands] See on the parallel texts in the margin.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges26. strike hands] i.e. as a surety. See Proverbs 6:1 note.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 22 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleStrike hands - i. e., Bind themselves as surety for what another owes (compare the margin reference).
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 22 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible26, 27. If thou hast nothing — The subject of suretyship has been treated before.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.
Tyndale line
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts:
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
Strictly literal
Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be among those striking hands, || Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
From the Latin
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
Simplified
Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show some agreement, with two words matched between them. However, the Septuagint's rendering does not fully correspond to the Hebrew text, indicating some interpretative differences in translation.
אַל־ תְּהִ֥י בְתֹֽקְעֵי־ כָ֑ף בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃
2 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 22:26
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singularHVqj2ms
תָּקַע (taqa) is a Hebrew verb meaning to thrust, clap, or give a blow, with a range of uses including striking, blowing a trumpet, or pledging oneself. It appears in various forms, such as Qal and Niphal, indicating actions like driving a weapon or the sound of a blast. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
תָּקַע 67 vb. thrust, clap, give a blow, blast
Qal
thrust, drive
give a blast, blow
strike, clap hands
Niph.
if a horn shall be blown
who is there that will strike himself (i.e. pledge himself) into my hand?
base
H8628 תָּקַע thrust, clap, give a blow, blast
8628 taqa` taw-kah'
a primitive root; to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together),
clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or
tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become bondsman by
handclasping):--blow ((a trumpet)), cast, clap, fasten, pitch
(tent), smite, sound, strike, X suretiship, thrust.
תָּקַע (ta.qa) — to blow.
1) to blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to thrust, drive (of weapon)
1a2) to give a blast, give a blow
1a3) to strike or clap hands
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be blown, blast (of horn)
1b2) to strike or pledge oneself
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural commonHR/Vqrmpc
strik: The verbs "to strike" and "to stroke" (latter not in English Versions) have the same derivation, and originally "strike" was the intrans, "stroke" the transitive form. "Strike" however, became used in both senses (always transitive in English Versions of the Bible), while "to stroke" took on the meaning "to, rub gently." But in the King James Version this last force still belonged sometimes to "strike" and is so found in 2Ki 5:11, "strike his hand over the place" (the Revised Version (British and American) "wave"), and perhaps Ex 12:7,22; Tobit 11:11 Otherwise AV's uses of the simple "strike" are modern, including "strike sail" (Ac 27:17; here and in /RAPC Tob 11:11 with an archaic preterite "strake," elsewhere…
כַּף (kaph) refers to the hollow or flat part of the hand, including the palm and the sole of the foot. It can also denote power and is used to describe various hollow objects, such as bowls or handles. The word encompasses a range of meanings related to the shape and function of hands and feet, as well as items that are hand-shaped.
כַּף 192 n.f. hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand
base
H3709 כַּף hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand
3709 kaph kaf
from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an
animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling,
the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree);
figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle,
(-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
see HEBREW for 03721
כַּף (kaph) — palm.
: palm/hand
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
1c) sole (of the foot)
1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects
1d1) of thigh-joint
1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)
1d3) hollow (of sling)
1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)
1d5) handles (as bent)
כַּף (kaph) — palm: sole.
: sole/paw
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
1c) sole (of the foot)
1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects
1d1) of thigh-joint
1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)
1d3) hollow (of sling)
1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)
1d5) handles (as bent)
כַּף (kaph) — palm: dish.
: dish/socket
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word עָרַב (arab) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to pledging, exchanging, and engaging in trade. It can refer to taking on a pledge, giving a pledge, or exchanging items, as well as having fellowship or sharing. The entries indicate various usages, including going surety for someone or making a bargain.
עָרַב vb. take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
Qal
c. acc. pers. take on pledge, i.e. go surety for
give in pledge
exchange (in trade)
Hithp.
recipr. exchange pledges (make a bargain) with my lord
have fellowship with
share in
base
H6148 עָרַב take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange .. c. acc. pers. take on pledge, i.e. go surety for
. give in pledge
. exchange (in trade)
. . recipr. exchange pledges (make a bargain) with my lord
. . have fellowship with
. share in
6148 `arab aw-rab'
a primitive root; to braid, i.e. intermix; technically, to
traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a
kind of exchange):--engage, (inter-)meddle (with), mingle
(self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be(-come, put in)
surety, undertake.
עָרַב (a.rav) — to pledge.
1) to pledge, exchange, mortgage, engage, occupy, undertake for, give pledges, be or become surety, take on pledge, give in pledge
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take on pledge, go surety for
1a2) to give in pledge
1a3) to exchange
1a4) to pledge
1b) (Hithpael)
1b1) to exchange pledges
1b2) to have fellowship with, share
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHRd/Vqrmpa
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
מַשָּׁאָה (mashsha'ah) refers to a loan, specifically in the context of a pledge or debt. It is a feminine noun derived from the root word for 'loan' (H4855). The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to financial obligation.
[מַשָּׁאָה] n.f. loan (on pledge)
base
H4859 [מַשָּׁאָה] loan (on pledge)
4859 mashsha'ah mash-shaw-aw'
feminine of 4855; a loan:--X any(- thing), debt.
see HEBREW for 04855
מַשָּׁאָה (mash.sha.ah) — loan.
loan
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa