Proverbs 6

1 thy friend. Rather, “thy neighbour,” as in iii. 28, 29. In very early times suretyship was practised, and was entered into by striking or joining hands. It brought the surety’s person and property into all the liabilities of the man for whom he bound himself. Cp. Gen. xliv. 32, 33; Job xvii. 3. Such engagements were, therefore, commonly very imprudent.

2. Thou art snared, etc. Rather, “If thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; if thou art taken,” etc.

3. When thou art come, etc. Rather, “Since thou hast come into the power of thy neighbour, go, prostrate thyself, and urge thy neighbour”; i.e., seek to be released from the engagement.

6. Go to the ant, etc. The ants in labouring for a common object exhibit a provident industry which men rarely display except under the guidance and oversight of a ruling mind (ver. 7).

11 as one that travelleth. Probably, “like a highwayman,” unexpectedly.

16. These six things, etc. Such enumerations as this are not uncommon in Arabian and Persian writings, and are found in Prov. xxx. and other places in the Bible. They are intended to show some point of resemblance between certain well-known things and the subject in hand, which is commonly mentioned last, as the climax. Here the sin of sowing discord by words or signs is said to be as hateful to Jehovah as all the six other sins which He had emphatically denounced.

22 it shall lead thee. That is, “the commandment,” “the law” (20), will be to thee a guide, a protector, and a companion.

31 he shall restore sevenfold. That is, he shall make full restitution, though he may thereby be deprived of all that he has.

32. But whoso committeth adultery, etc. The argument appears to be this: The thief, driven by hunger to steal, is regarded with pity rather than contempt, and yet for the protection of society is compelled to “restore sevenfold”: how much more, then, shall the adulterer be despised, as one who “lacketh understanding,” and visited for his crime, which admits no reparation.

35 ransom. That is, compensation. No “gifts” will be accepted as an equivalent for the injury he has suffered.