What does it mean to be “surety for thy friend” in this passage?

To be “surety for thy friend” means you have promised to pay someone else’s debt if they cannot pay it themselves. You have shaken hands on it and used your own words to guarantee what they owe. The father says this can trap you, because you are now in the hands of both the lender and the borrower. It is not saying you may never help others, but it warns against quick, careless promises that can bring loss to you and your household.

Why does the father urge his son to act quickly if he is trapped by a promise?

The father tells his son to go at once, humble himself, and try to be released from the agreement. He even says not to give sleep to his eyes until he has tried. The picture is like a deer or a bird escaping a hunter. The idea is that careless promises can be dangerous, so a person should not sit back and hope things work out. He should swallow his pride, admit the risk, and do what he can to limit the harm.

Why is the sluggard told to go to the ant and consider her ways?

The lazy person is sent to learn from a tiny ant. The ant has no boss standing over it and yet works hard, storing food in summer and harvest. This shows the value of steady, quiet work and planning ahead. The sluggard, on the other hand, keeps saying, “Just a little more sleep,” until poverty comes like a traveler who shows up suddenly, or like an armed man that cannot be resisted. The lesson is that small acts of laziness add up and bring real loss.

What are the six things the Lord hates, yea seven that are an abomination?

The passage lists proud eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plans evil, feet quick to run to mischief, a false witness who tells lies, and a person who sows discord among brothers. These show both inner attitudes and outward actions. God cares about truth, humility, peace, and protection of the innocent. Those who love Him should turn away from these patterns, because they lead to sudden ruin and break fellowship with others.

How do a father’s commandment and a mother’s law protect a young person?

The father says his commandment and the mother’s teaching should be tied to the heart and worn like something around the neck. When the son walks, these words will lead him; when he sleeps, they will guard him; when he wakes, they will speak with him. God’s command is called a lamp, and teaching is called light. Loving correction is described as the way of life. All this shows that God’s wisdom, passed on through parents, guides and protects from many dangers.

What is the “evil woman” or “strange woman” in this passage trying to do?

The “evil” or “strange” woman here is a picture of an adulteress. She uses smooth words, flattering speech, outward beauty, and flirtatious looks to draw a man in. The passage says she can reduce a man to a piece of bread and hunts for his very life. The warning is not only about her, but also about the man’s own heart. He must not desire her beauty or let her catch him with her eyes, because the path she offers leads to loss, shame, and even death.

Why is adultery described as like taking fire into your bosom?

The father asks if a man can carry fire in his clothes or walk on hot coals without being burned. The answer is clearly no. In the same way, a man who goes in to his neighbour’s wife cannot avoid harm. Theft, though still wrong, can at least be paid back. But adultery brings lasting wounds, disgrace that is not wiped away, and the fierce anger of the wronged husband. It shows that sexual sin is not “harmless” but deeply destructive to the soul and to families.

How is adultery compared with stealing bread when hungry?

The passage says people do not despise a thief as much if he steals because he is hungry, even though he must still repay many times over. But adultery is treated far more seriously. There is no way to “repay” the damage done to marriage, trust, and family. The adulterer is said to lack understanding, to destroy his own life, and to receive wounds and dishonor. Even generous gifts cannot calm the jealous husband. This shows how deep the hurt of adultery goes.

What does this passage teach about God’s character and our daily choices?

This chapter shows that God cares about everyday choices in money, work, speech, and sexuality. He hates proud, lying, violent, and divisive ways, and He loves honesty, diligence, and faithfulness. His commands are not meant to crush joy but to guard life, like a lamp in a dark place. When we listen to His wisdom and to godly parents, we are kept from traps that can ruin us. When we ignore Him, trouble can come suddenly, and often there is no easy way to undo the harm.

Prov.6.1

Proverbs 6:1

KJV

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Warnings against Foolishness

1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

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.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16 ¶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Warnings against Adultery

20 ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Cross References

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