Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 22:27
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
27. he ] i.e. the creditor.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He – i. e., The man to whom the surety has been given. The practice of distraining for payment of a debt, seems, though prohibited Exo 22:27, to have become common.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. If thou hast nothing to pay] Should any man give security for more than he is worth? If he does, is it not a fraud on the very face of the transaction?
Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?] The creditor will not pursue the debtor whom he knows to be worth nothing; but he will sue the bail or bondsman. And why shouldst thou put thyself in such circumstances as to expose thyself to the loss even of thy bed?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Why wilt thou put thyself into the hands of such a man, who will exact the debt from thee without any compassion? For though God did not allow this practice, covetous creditors would frequently do it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. should he take, &c.thatis, the creditor.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If thou hast nothing to pay,…. When the debtor this, and the creditor demands the debt of the surety: it is weakness in a man to be a surety for another, when he knows he is not able to pay the debt he is bound for, since it may be an injury to himself and family; but it is a piece of wickedness to engage for the payment of a debt, in case of insolvency, which he knows he is not able to answer; for this is deceiving and imposing upon the creditor; and therefore it is no wonder, being provoked by such ill usage, if he goes to extremity, as follows:
why should he take away thy bed from under thee? as in all likelihood he will, being irritated by such a conduct; and as he might, notwithstanding the law in Ex 22:26; for that respects a pledge, and not a debt; and raiment pledged, the covering of a man when in bed, and not the bed itself; for even wife and children might be taken for debt, 2Ki 4:1. This is said to deter from suretyship, especially in such circumstances; since a man may bring himself into such a condition as not to have a bed to lie on; yea, to have it taken from under him when upon it; and be turned out from house and home, naked and destitute.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?If the mantle was taken in pledge, it had to be restored before sundown for the poor man to sleep in; but this merciful provision of the Law was evidently evaded. (Comp. Eze. 18:12.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
v. 27. If thou hast nothing to pay,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 22:27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Ver. 27. If thou hast nothing to pay. ] And yet art gotten into the usurer’s furnace, he will leave thee at last neither metal nor matter.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he: i.e. the usurer.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 20:16, Exo 22:26, Exo 22:27, 2Ki 4:1
Reciprocal: Lev 15:20 – General Psa 112:5 – he will Psa 119:122 – surety Pro 11:15 – that is surety Pro 17:18 – void Pro 27:13 – General