Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 6:11
So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man.
11. one that travelleth an armed man ] The figure is two-fold. The doom of the sluggard travels swiftly and is inevitable. While he slumbers inertly, Poverty is coming on apace, drawing nearer to him every moment; and when it comes, it falls upon him like an armed man (Heb. “man with a shield”) from whom there is no escape.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The similitude is drawn from the two sources of Eastern terror: the traveler, i. e., the thief in the night, coming suddenly to plunder; the armed man, literally the man of the shield, the armed robber. The habit of indolence is more fatally destructive than these marauders.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth] That is, with slow, but surely approaching steps.
Thy want as an armed man.] That is, with irresistible fury; and thou art not prepared to oppose it. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic add the following clause to this verse: –
“But if thou wilt be diligent, thy harvest shall be as a fountain; and poverty shall flee far away from thee.”
It is also thus in the Old MS. Bible: If forsothe unslow thou shul ben; shul comen as a welle thi rip; and nede fer shal fleen fro thee.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As one that travaileth, swiftly and unexpectedly. As an armed man, irresistibly or unavoidably.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. and the fruits of theirself-indulgence and indolence presented.
as . . .travellethliterally, “one who walks backwards andforwards,” that is, a highwayman.
armed manthat is, oneprepared to destroy.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,…. Either swiftly and suddenly, as a traveller makes haste to get to his journey’s end, and comes upon his family or friends at an unawares; or though he moves gradually, by slow paces and silent steps, yet surely: and so it signifies that poverty should come upon the sluggard very quickly, and before he was aware: and though it might come by degrees, yet it would certainly come;
and thy want as an armed man; or, “thy wants as a man of shield” u: denoting many wants that should come rushing in one upon another, like a man armed with shield and buckler; appearing with great terror and force, not to be resisted. It denotes the unavoidableness of being brought into penury and want by sloth, and the terribleness of such a condition. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, add,
“but if thou art not slothful, thy harvest shall come as a fountain (as the inundation of a fountain, Arabic); but want shall flee as an evil racer (as an evil man, Arabic; far from thee, Vulgate Latin):”
but this is not in the Hebrew text.
u “tanquam vir clypei”, Montanus; “vir clypeatus”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) As one that travelleth.The form of the Hebrew is intensive, one who moves swiftly, as in Psa. 104:3, it is applied to Gods moving upon the wings of the wind. While the sluggard sleeps, poverty is coming on apace.
AS an armed man.Against whom the sleeper will be defenceless. Pro. 6:10-11 are repeated in Pro. 24:33-34.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 6:11. As one that travelleth Dr. Grey would render this verse, So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want [shall overtake thee speedily] as a post, or messenger. See Jer 51:31. Lord Bacon upon this proverb distinguishes between the poverty which comes as a traveller, and the want which comes as an armed man. The shipwreck of fortune falls upon prodigals, or such as are careless of their estates, by insensible degrees at the first; with soft silent paces, like a traveller, and is hardly perceived; but soon after necessity invades him like an armed man; i.e. presses upon him so hard, that he feels it plainly, and perceives that there is no resistance to be made: whereupon he gives this prudent advice,to prevent the traveller, and to be well provided against the armed man. See his Advancement of Learning, book 8: chap. 2 parab. 5.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Ver. 11. As a traveller, and thy want as an armed man. ] That is, Speedily and irresistibly. Men must sweat out a living, and earn their bread before they eat it. 2Th 3:12 Think not to have wealth without working; as cities and towns are said to have fallen into Timotheus’s toil as he was sleeping – with so much ease he took them in. Spontaneae lassitudines morbos praecedunt, a roamings and reachings forerun diseases; so doth sluggishness usher in penury; when, as manus motitans, “the nimble hand maketh rich”; Pro 10:4 and “in all labour there is abundance.” Pro 14:23 But, Nae, illi falsi sunt qui diversissimas res expectant ignaviae voluptatem et praemia virtutis. b They are utterly out that think to have the pleasure of idleness, and the plenty of painfulness.
a Hippocrat.
b Salust.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
poverty = need. There are six words rendered poor or poverty in Proverbs: (1) rush = in want of necessaries of life (Pro 6:11; Pro 10:4, Pro 10:15; Pro 13:7, Pro 13:8, Pro 13:18, Pro 13:23; Pro 14:20; Pro 17:5; Pro 18:23; Pro 19:1, Pro 19:7, Pro 19:22; Pro 22:2, Pro 22:7; Pro 24:34; Pro 28:3, Pro 28:6, Pro 28:19, Pro 28:27; Pro 29:13; Pro 30:8; Pro 31:7). (2) dal = impoverished, reduced (Pro 10:15; Pro 14:31; Pro 19:4, Pro 19:17; Pro 22:9, Pro 22:16, Pro 22:22, Pro 22:22; Pro 28:3, Pro 8:11, Pro 8:15; Pro 29:7, Pro 29:14). (3) heser = in want (Pro 11:24; Pro 21:17; Pro 28:22). (4) ‘anah = wretched (Pro 14:21). (5) ‘ebyon = destitute, helpless; deficient in will and wealth (Pro 14:31). (6) yarash = dispossessed (Pro 20:13; Pro 23:21; Pro 30:9).
as one that travelleth = as a highwayman.
as an armed man = as a man with a shield. Compare Pro 21:33, Pro 21:34.
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 10:4, Pro 13:4, Pro 20:4
Reciprocal: Job 15:24 – as a king Job 17:3 – strike Pro 6:4 – General Pro 13:25 – the belly Ecc 4:5 – fool
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that {d} travelleth, and thy want as {e} an armed man.
(d) That is, suddenly, and when you do not look for it.
(e) It will come in such sort, as you are not able to resist it.