Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 6:3
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
3. when ] Rather, for, or, seeing that, R.V.
humble thyself ] Lit. offer thyself to be trampled upon; prostrate thyself. Others render, stir thyself, R.V. marg.; , LXX., festina, Vulg.
make sure ] Rather, be urgent upon, importune, R.V.; , LXX.; suscita, Vulg.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Better, Do this now, O my son, and free thyself when thou hast come into thy friends house; go, how thyself down (perhaps stamp with thy foot, or hasten), press hotly upon thy friend. By persuasion, and if need be, by threats, get back the bond which thou hast been entrapped into signing: The friend is, as before, the companion, not the creditor.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Do this – deliver thyself] Continue to press him for whom thou art become surety, to pay his creditor; give him no rest till he do it, else thou mayest fully expect to be left to pay the debt.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Into the hand; into the power.
Of thy friend; either,
1. Of the creditor, who possibly may be also thy friend; yet take the following course with him, and much more if he be a stranger. Or,
2. Of the debtor, for whom, as being thy friend, thou didst become surety; whereby thou art not only in the creditors power to exact payment, but also in the debtors power, by his neglect or unfaithfulness, to expose thee to the payment of the debt. And this may seem best to agree both with Pro 6:1, where friend is taken in that sense, and is distinguished from the creditor, who is called a stranger, and with the words here following; for this humbling of himself was not likely to have much power with a stranger and a griping usurer; but it might probably prevail with his friend, either to take effectual care to pay the debt, or at least to discharge him from the obligation, or to secure him against it some other way.
Humble thyself, Heb. offer thyself to be trodden upon, or throw thyself down at his feet. As thou hast made thyself his servant, bear the fruits of thine own folly, and humbly and earnestly implore his patience and clemency.
And make sure thy friend; or, and prevail with thy friend; strive to win him by thine incessant and earnest solicitations. Or, honour or magnify thy friend, which is fitly and properly opposed to, and indeed is in some good measure done by, the humbling a mans self before him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. come . . . friendin hispower.
humble . . . sure thyfriendurge as a suppliant; that is, induce the friend toprovide otherwise for his debt, or secure the surety.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself,…. Take the following advice, as the best that can be given in such circumstances, in order to be freed from such an obligation, or to be safe and easy under it;
when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; or,
“because or seeing thou art fallen into the hand of thy friend,”
as the Targum; or
“though thou art,” c.
as Aben Ezra which may be understood either of the creditor to whom a man is bound, or of the debtor for whom he is bound, or of both; for a surety is in the hands or power of both: he is in the hands of the creditor, who may demand payment of the debt of him; and he is in the hands of the debtor, who, if a careless or crafty and deceitful man, may leave him to the payment of it. The Septuagint and Arabic versions are,
“for thou art come into the hands of evil men for thy friend;”
and the Syriac version,
“seeing for thy friend thou art fallen into the hands of thine enemy;”
and therefore must make the best of it thou canst, and in the following way:
go, humble thyself; that is, to the creditor, prostrate thyself before him; lie down upon the ground to be trodden on, as the word d signifies; fall down on thine knees, and entreat him to discharge thee from the bond, or give longer time for payment, if up; for thou art in his hands, and there is no carrying it with a high hand or a haughty spirit to him; humility, and not haughtiness, is most likely to be serviceable in such a case;
and make sure thy friend; for whom thou art become a surety, as the Syriac and Arabic versions add; solicit him, as the former of these versions render it; stimulate him, as the Septuagint; stir him up, urge him to pay off the debt quickly, and discharge the bond, or give thee security and indemnity from it. Or, “magnify thy friend” e; that is, to the creditor; speak of him as a very able and responsible man, and as an honest and faithful one, that will pay in due time. Some render it “magnify”, and speak well of the debtor to thy friend, which may please and appease him: or, “multiply thy friends” f; get as many as thou canst to intercede for thee, and get thee discharged from the obligation by some means or another; to this purpose Jarchi.
d “praebe conculcandum te”, Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis. e “evehe proximum tuum”, Tigurine version; “magnifica”, so some in Vatablus. f “Multiplica amicos tuos”, so some in Bayne.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 3-5 urge immediate effort to obtain a release if foolishly ensnared in suretyship. Promptness is important where debt is involved, Rom 12:17; 2Co 8:21. The instruction is to act at once, do not delay. Humble thyself and ask for a release. Seek such as earnestly as an animal or bird would seek release if caught in a trap.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) When thou art come . . .Rather, for thou hast come under the power of thy friend; thou hast made thy freedom and property dependent on him for whom thou hast become surety.
Humble thyself.Literally, let thyself be trampled on, humbly sue.
Make sure.Rather, assail impetuously, importune.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Humble thyself Or, bestir thyself, and beseech him for whom thou art surety to release thee, or give ample security against the risks encountered. This is supposed to be the general meaning of the passage. Like many other passages of the book, it is to be understood with the appropriate qualifications which common sense suggests. We cannot imagine that the wise man here instructs his pupil to never, in any case, become security for a friend. This may sometimes be an act of justice, of humanity, or of charity, and often involves little risk. With the above qualifications, the warning is one of prudence. A man can scarcely be too careful to avoid risks of this nature. Many a well-doing man and his family have thus been ruined. A wise man will not rashly put his name on another man’s paper; and a good and just man will not ask his friend to run a great risk to accommodate him. In all cases of any risk, the endorser or surety should be made acquainted with the true state of the case. It is dishonest for one man to accept the endorsement or joint liability of another while concealing from him the danger of the transaction.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 6:3. When thou art come, &c. The LXX render this, For thou art come into the hands of evil men upon thy friend’s account; go therefore, be not careless, or remiss, but earnest and importunate with thy friend, to get thyself discharged. This, says Dr. Grey, is more agreeable to the sense, and the metre, and is confirmed by the Syriac.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
Ver. 3. When thou art come into the hand. ] For “the borrower is servant to the lender,” Pro 22:7 and Facile ex amico inimicum facies cui promissa non reddes, saith Jerome. a A friend will soon become a foe, if unfriendly and unfaithfully dealt with. Not keeping time makes a jar in payments – and so in friendship too – as well as in music.
Go, humble thyself.
And make sure thy friend.
a Jerome, Ad Celantiam.
b Horat. Epod. Colum. de re rust, lib. i. cap. 7.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
deliver = rescue.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when: 2Sa 24:14, 2Ch 12:5, Psa 31:8
go: Exo 10:3, 2Ch 36:12, Jam 4:10
and make sure thy friend: or, so shalt thou prevail with they friend
Reciprocal: Gen 32:4 – my lord Gen 33:3 – bowed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 6:3-5. Do this now, my son Immediately follow the counsel which I now give thee, and deliver thyself Use thy utmost endeavours to be discharged; when, or since, thou art come into the hand That is, into the power; of thy friend Of the debtor, for whom, as being thy friend, thou didst become surety, whereby thou art in his power, by his neglect or unfaithfulness, to expose thee to the payment of the debt. Go, humble thyself Hebrew, , throw thyself down at his feet, or offer thyself to be trodden upon. As thou hast put thyself in his power, and made thyself his servant, bear the fruits of thy own folly, and humbly and earnestly implore him as readily to grant thy request as thou wast forward to comply with his, and forthwith to satisfy the debt, or give thee security against the creditor. Make sure of thy friend Cease not to urge and importune him by thyself, and by thy friends, till thou hast prevailed with him. The Seventy translate this verse, Do, my son, the things which I command thee, and deliver thyself: for thou art come into the hands of evil men upon thy friends account: go, therefore, be not careless or remiss, but earnest and importunate with thy friend to get thyself discharged. Give not sleep to thine eyes, &c. Namely, until thou hast taken care for the discharge of this obligation. Be not secure, nor negligent, nor dilatory in this matter. Deliver thyself as a roe, &c. With all possible expedition, as a roe runs swiftly away.