Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 20:25
[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
25. who devoureth that which is holy ] This rendering is retained in R.V. marg., as is also another, rashly to utter holy words. But it is better to render, rashly to say, It is holy (R.V. text), i.e. consecrated (comp. Corban, Mar 7:11). The sequence is thus preserved: and after vows (of consecration, thus rashly taken) to make enquiry (as to the wisdom or possibility of keeping them). , LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Better, It is a snare to a man to utter a vow (of consecration) rashly, and after vows to inquire whether he can fulfill them. Both clauses are a protest against the besetting sin of rash and hasty vows. Compare the marginal reference.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 20:25
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy.
Selfishness in religion
There were under the Levitical dispensation certain things prescribed by the law as consecrated to God; such as tithes, first-fruits, firstlings of the herds and the flock. There were also things that were voluntarily consecrated as free-will offerings to Jehovah. It is to these, perhaps, that Solomon here specially refers. The expression, to devour that which is holy, characterises the conduct of those who appropriate that to their own use which had been either by themselves or others consecrated to the service of God. The subject leads us to consider selfishness in religion. Selfishness everywhere is bad, but when selfishness intrudes into the temple of religion, it is peculiarly hideous. It is then the serpent amongst seraphs.
I. The appropriating of the consecrated to personal use. The text speaks of the man who devoureth that which is holy. This was the sin of Achan: he robbed the treasury of the Lord (Jos 6:19; Jos 7:1). Will a man rob God? (Mal 3:8-9). This is done now in England.
1. In the personal appropriations of ecclesiastical endowments.
2. In the assumption of sacred offices for personal ends.
3. In the adoption of the Christian profession from motives of personal interest.
II. The endeavouring to avoid the fulfilment of religious vows. And after vows to make inquiry. There are three ideas that must not be attached to this expression.
1. The idea that it is wrong to make religious vows is not here.
2. The idea that it is wrong to break improper vows is not here.
3. The idea that it is wrong to think upon the vow after it is made is not here. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 25. Who devoureth that which is holy] It is a sin to take that which belongs to God, his worship, or his work, and devote it to one’s own use.
And after vows to make inquiry.] That is, if a man be inwardly making a rash vow, the fitness or unfitness, the necessity, expediency, and propriety of the thing should be first carefully considered. But how foolish to make the vow first, and afterwards to inquire whether it was right in the sight of God to do it! This equally condemns all rash and inconsiderate conduct. My old MS. Bible translates, Falling is of men often to vowen to seyntis, and after, the vouw is agen brawen. Is it possible that Wiclif could have translated this verse thus? as it strongly countenances vows to and invocations of saints.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is a snare; it brings guilt and Gods curse and vengeance upon him.
That which is holy, i.e. those meats or drinks which were devoted or consecrated to God; under which one kind he comprehends and forbids all alienation of sacred or dedicated things from God to a mans private use or benefit; of which see Lev 27:9; Deu 23:21; Mal 3:8,9; Ac 5:1, &c.
After vows to make inquiry; after a man hath made vows to consider whether he can possibly or may lawfullly keep them, and to invent or inquire of others all ways possible to break his vow, and to satisfy or deceive his conscience in so doing; which inquiry is justly censured as a sin and snare, because it is an evidence of a covetous or irreligious mind, and is the ready way and first step towards the open violation of it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. devoureth . . . holyor,better, “who rashly speaks promises,” or “devotes whatis holy,” consecrating any thing. This suits better the lastclause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashlyvowing.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy,…. Which is separated to sacred uses, is devoted to the Lord, as firstfruits, tithes, offerings, c. which if a man converts to his own use is sacrilege, and this is a sin and a snare, and brings ruin on him see Mal 3:8;
and after vows to make inquiry: that is a sin and a snare also; a man should first inquire before he vows, whether it is right for him to make a vow, and whether he is able to keep it; it is too late after the vow is made to inquire about the lawfulness or expedience of it, and how to find out ways and means to dissolve it and be clear of it; for it is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay, Ec 5:4; when a thing is in a man’s own hands, he may do what he will; but when he has devoted it to another use, it is no longer in his power; as the case of Ananias and Sapphira shows, Ac 5:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25 It is a snare to a man to cry out hastily “holy;”
And first after vows to investigate.
Two other interpretations of the first line have been proposed. The snare of a man devours, i.e., destroys the holy; but then must be an expression of an action, instead of an expression of an endurance, which is impossible. The same is true against the explanation: the snare of a man devours, i.e., consumes, eats up the holy, which as such is withdrawn from common use. Jerome with his devotare sanctos , and Luther with his das Heilige lestern [to calumniate the holy], give to = a meaning which loses itself in the arbitrary. Accordingly, nothing is to be done with the meaning (Aquila, the Venet.). But will be the abbreviated fut. of (from ), or ( ), Job 6:3 = (Arab.) lagha temere loqui ( proloqui ); and (after Hitzig: consecration, which is contrary to usage) is like , Mar 7:11, the exclamation to which one suddenly gives utterance, thereby meaning that this or that among his possessions henceforth no longer belongs to him, but is consecrated to God, and thus ought to be delivered up to the temple. Such a sudden vow and halting deference to the oath that has been uttered is a snare to a man, for he comes to know that he has injured himself by the alienation of his property, which he has vowed beyond that which was due from him, or that the fulfilling of his vow is connected with difficulties, and perhaps also to others, with regard to whom its disposal was not permitted to him, is of evil consequences, or it may be he is overcome by repentance and is constrained to break his oath. The lxx hits the true meaning of the proverb with rare success: , . is plur. of the category (cf. 16b Chethb ), and , as 2Ki 16:15, Arab. bakr , examinare, inquirere , means to subject to investigation, viz., whether he ought to observe, and might observe, a vow such as this, or whether he might not and ought not rather to renounce it (Fleischer). Viewed syntactically, 25a is so difficult, that Bertheau, with Hitzig, punctuates ; but this substantive must be formed from a verb (cf. Hab 3:13), and this would mean, after (Arab.) wala’ , “to long eagerly for,” which is not suitable here. The punctuation shows as the 3rd fut. What interpreters here say of the doubled accent of the word arises from ignorance: the correct punctuation is , with Gaja to , to give the final guttural more force in utterance. The poet appears to place in the foreground: “a snare for a man,” as a rubrum ; and then continuing the description, he cries out suddenly “holy!” and after the vow, he proceeds to deliberate upon it. Fleischer rightly: post vota inquisiturus est ( in ea ) = ; vid., at Hab 1:17, which passage Hitzig also compares as syntactically very closely related.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Two things, by which God is greatly affronted, men are here said to be ensnared by, and entangled not only in guilt, but in trouble and ruin at length:– 1. Sacrilege, men’s alienating holy things and converting them to their own use, which is here called devouring them. What is devoted in any way to the service and honour of God, for the support of religion and divine worship or the relief of the poor, ought to be conscientiously preserved to the purposes designed; and those that directly or indirectly embezzle it, or defeat the purpose for which it was given, will have a great deal to answer for. Will a man rob God in tithes and offerings? Mal. iii. 8. Those that hurry over religious offices (their praying and preaching) and huddle them up in haste, as being impatient to get done, may be said to devour that which is holy. 2. Covenant-breaking. It is a snare to a man, after he has made vows to God, to enquire how he may evade them or get dispensed with, and to contrive excuses for the violating of them. If the matter of them was doubtful, and the expressions were ambiguous, that was his fault; he should have made them with more caution and consideration, for it will involve his conscience (if it be tender) in great perplexities, if he be to enquire concerning them afterwards (Eccl. v. 6); for, when we have opened our mouth to the Lord, it is too late to think of going back, Acts v. 4.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Caution In Making Vows
Verse 25 urges care in making vows lest more be promised than can be paid. The LORD expects vows to be kept. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay, Ecc 5:4-5; Act 5:1-10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 20:25. The first clause of this verse should be, It is a snare to a man to cry out hastily holy, i.e., to vow without thought and consideration.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 20:25
For the correct rendering of this verse see Critical Notes
RELIGIOUS VOWS
I. A man is under no obligation to vow. While the Scriptures contain many references to vows, whereby certain persons consecrated themselves or their property to God and give laws concerning their fulfilment (Numbers 30), there is no command which requires men to enter into such a solemn engagement. The text refers solely to religious vowsto an act of special consecration to God, such as that of Jacob at Bethel when he dedicated the tenth of all his gains to the service of Jehovah (Gen. 28:22), or that of Hannah when she promised that, if God would give her a man-child, she would give him unto the Lord all the days of his life (1Sa. 1:11). It is obvious that such special acknowledgements of particular and exceptional blessings must be pleasing to God, but He lays upon men no obligation to render them, seeing that their value consists in their being spontaneousthe overflow of a grateful heart, or the result of a deep conviction of the claims of God, or of the need of Divine help in extraordinary circumstances.
II. A man is bound by the most solemn considerations not to vow thoughtlessly. As an intelligent and moral being he is bound to enter upon no course and to make no engagement without first inquiring whether the motive which prompts him at the outset is strong enough to carry him to the end. It is a snare and a sin to promise to a fellow-man and afterwards, in the words of the proverb, to make inquiry, i.e., to ask ourselves whether we are prepared to abide by our promise. The inquiry must even in such a case be made beforehand, or we must be branded with unfaithfulness to our plighted word. (These remarks of course do not apply to vows and promises which are in themselves sinful or unlawful. The proverb does not deal with such). If, then, a man is bound to consider well before he promises to man, how much more so before he vows to God! What must be the harm done to conscience and to character, and how great the insult offered to the Divine Majesty, when vows are made and obligations entered into, and afterwards he who thus bound himself finds that he is not morally prepared for the sacrifice. To such an one we might say, as Peter said to AnaniasWhiles it remained, was it not thine own? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God (Act. 5:4-5). Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, says the Preacher, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay (Ecc. 5:5).
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
It is questionable whether vows, properly so called, are consistent with the genius of the New Testament dispensation. At any rate, of such vows as were common under the Old, we have no recorded examples under the New. Resolutions to serve God we may, nay we must make; there is no getting on in the Divine life and in the zealous promotion of the Divine glory, without them. But the binding of the soul by particular bonds and oaths, whether verbal or writtenobligations superinduced upon those of the Divine lawhave been a snare to many, Weak minds have often felt the obligation of their vow more stringent than that of the Divine authority.Wardlaw.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(25) It is a snare to a man who devoureth that which is holy.Rather, It is a snare for a man (i.e., gets him into trouble) rashly to say, It is dedicated (i.e., when he thoughtlessly dedicates anything to God), and after he has vowed to enquire (whether he can keep his word). (Comp. Sir. 5:2; Sir. 5:4-6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Devoureth that which is holy Having become so by its dedication to God. The probability is, that this verse should be rendered thus: “A rash utterance of consecration is a snare unto a man;” that is, may ensnare him, or bring him into difficulty.
After vows to make inquiry And as a sequence either regret the vow or withhold the thing devoted. A parallel passage is found in Ecc 5:2. Comp. also Num 30:3, on vows. The passage cautions against making rash vows and afterwards inquiring into their lawfulness, convenience, or practicability. Comp. Psa 15:4. All this should be considered first. Compare Mar 7:11. The Geneva Bible reads thus: “It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire;” and explains thus: “that is, to applie or take to his owne vse which was appointed to God’s, and then inquire how thei may be exempted from faute,” (fault.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 20:25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy It is a snare to a man, if he swallow down a vow, or an oath. Or, as Houbigant renders it, The man is ensnared who rashly vows a holy thing, and shall delay, retracting his vow. The verse is generally understood to be directed against sacrilege.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Under the various images here represented, the wise man aims to en force the infinite importance of the maxims he had been setting forth, and the happiness of those that follow them.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 20:25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Ver. 25. It is a snare to a man who devoureth, &c. ] He doeth as a fish that swallows the hook, as the eagle that stole the flesh from the altar with a coal sticking to it, that set the whole nest on fire, &c. What a sad end befell Cardinal Wolsey, while he sought more to please the king than God, as himself said! And what a revenging hand of God pursued his five chief agents that were most instrumental for him in that sacrilegious enterprise! One of them killed his fellow in a duel, and was hanged for it. A third drowned himself in a well. A fourth fell from a great estate to extreme beggary. Dr Allen (the last and chiefest of them) being archbishop of Dublin, was cruelly slain by his enemies. a Utinam his et similibus exemplis edocti discant homines res semel Deo consecratas timide attrectare! saith Scultetus, b who relates this story; I would men would take heed by these add the like examples how they meddle with things once consecrated to God. If divine justice so severely punished those that converted church goods (though not so well administered) to better uses (doubtless, because they did it out of selfish and sinful principles and intentions), what shall become of such as take all occasions to rob God, that they may enrich themselves? Spoliantur parochiae et scholae non aliter ac si fame necare nos velint, saith Luther; c Parishes and schools are polled and robbed of their maintenance, as if they meant to starve us all.
And after vows to make inquiry.
a Acts and Mon.
b Scult. Annul., tom. ii. p. 332.
c Luth. in Gen. xlvii.
d Speed’s Chron., fol. 826.
e Ibid., 496.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
devoureth = rashly promises.
holy. See note on Exo 3:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 20:25
Pro 20:25
“It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.”
Again, we have a proverb in which the Hebrew text, “Is not clear. The `inquiry’ mentioned in the second line apparently refers to a situation in which a man, after making a rash and vow, begins to seek some loophole, “So as to escape payment.
Sometimes, people, under a sudden impulse will make pledges for benevolent or religious purposes, which are really beyond their means; and this proverb is a warning against such behavior. “It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vow. “Jephthah is a startling example of one falling into the snare that is mentioned here (Jdg 11:34-40). Jonah’s mention in his prayer from the fish’s belly that he would pay his vows is a strong indication that he also had made some rash vows (Jon 2:9). “The Pharisees developed a casuistry regarding gifts to the Temple that Jesus condemned (Mat 23:16-22).
Pro 20:25. We should always think before acting, and when vowing before God this verse shows that one should be sure he is going to carry through before promising. And so agrees Ecc 5:4-5. We should work to get people to make sacred decisions, but we do not want to pressure them into saying something that they will not have the faith, reverence, and determination to carry out. Many a persuasive, out-going, personality-man has gotten people baptized who were not really ready on their own to live the Christ-directed life.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
a snare: Pro 18:7, Lev 5:15, Lev 22:10-15, Lev 27:30, Mal 3:8-10
after: Lev 27:9, Lev 27:10, Lev 27:31, Num 30:2-16, Ecc 5:4-6, Mat 5:33
Reciprocal: Deu 23:23 – That which Jos 9:20 – lest wrath Jdg 21:22 – give unto 2Ch 28:21 – took away Ecc 5:5 – General Mat 15:5 – It is Act 5:3 – to keep
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 20:25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy He is insnared in a crime, who takes away, and applies to his own use, any thing consecrated to God, and intended to be used in support of his worship and service; or who alienates any holy thing, and employs it to a secular purpose, which is here called devouring it: and after vows to make inquiry After a man hath made vows, to consider whether he can possibly, or may lawfully, keep them; or to inquire of others for ways to break them, and to satisfy his conscience in so doing. There are two pieces of profaneness, says Bishop Patrick, in his paraphrase on this verse, which entangle him that is guilty of them in great troubles, nay, often bring ruin upon him: 1st, When he makes no distinction between things holy and common; but converts that which was consecrated to God (the first-fruits, suppose, or such like sacred thing) to his own proper use; and, 2d, When he vows, in his distress, to give something unto God, but having obtained his desires, studies how he may be loosed from his obligations.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] {g} devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
(g) That is, to apply or take for his own use, that which was appointed to God’s and then ask how he may be exempted from the fault.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The situation in view here is that of a person who impulsively pledges something to God and then, upon reconsidering, wishes that he had not done so (cf. Ecc 5:5; Mar 7:11). It is better to wait to make the pledge, until one thinks through the implications of the decision carefully. In a larger application, we should avoid all unconsidered action. [Note: Whybray, The Book . . ., p. 116.]
"Too many people will make promises under the inspiration of the hour only later to realize that they have strapped themselves; they then try to go back on their word." [Note: Ross, p. 1047.]