Topics in Proverbs Table

6:1 My child See 1:8; note on 1:8–9:18.

you have pledged to your neighbor A pledge or security was collateral taken for a loan. Wisdom Literature speaks strongly against putting up security or pledges (11:15; 22:26); the one putting up security would be held responsible if the debtor defaulted on his loan.

6:3 plead with your neighbor Emphasizes the urgency of the situation. The debtor should quickly go and petition the creditor for mercy. The Hebrew phrase used here indicates a fervent, continued pleading. This idea is also seen in the parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1–5).

6:6 Go to the ant, lazy The ant appears only twice in the Bible—here and in Prov 30:25. In both places, it appears as an example of wisdom and prudence, since ants work hard to store up food (compare note on v. 9).

6:7 It has no chief The ant has enough initiative and discipline to work hard without any supervision. The argument moves from lesser to greater: The idea is that if the seemingly inconsequential ant can do this, then a human must be able to do more.

6:9 lazy A recurring character in Proverbs, who stands in sharp contrast here to the industrious ant (vv. 6–8).

The Fool in Proverbs

6:10 a little folding of the hands Indicates a refusal to work (Eccl 4:5). The sluggard’s hands are often mentioned in Proverbs (Prov 10:4; 19:24; 21:25).

6:11 like a robber For the sluggard, poverty comes suddenly and ruthlessly like a thief or armed man. The onset of poverty should be obvious for sluggards since they do not work (20:4). However, their arrogance (26:16) may blind them to this.

6:12 worthless This quality is closely associated with evil (16:27) and rebellion (1 Sam 2:12). In the nt, a version of the Hebrew term used here, beliyya'al, is mentioned as being the opposite of Christ (2 Cor 6:15).

with deceitful speech Indicates deceit. See note on Prov 4:24.

6:13 Winking in his eye The exact meanings of the three gestures described here are uncertain. They are most likely associated with the deceit mentioned in v. 12. The wicked do not just lie with their mouths, but use many parts of their bodies—eyes, feet, fingers—to carry out their deceit.

6:14 evil The Hebrew word used here can refer to harm or trouble as well as to evil. See note on Psa 15:3.

6:16 There are six things This does not suggest that Yahweh hates only six things while considering seven an abomination. Here, the author uses a literary device to show that the following list of traits is both hated by and an abomination to God. Numerical sayings are a common literary device in wisdom literature. The formula “number … number+1” is used throughout Proverbs (see Prov 30:18 and note; compare 30:15, 21; Job 5:19).

6:19 a false witness who breathes lies The law prohibits bearing false witness (Exod 20:16). The person who gives a false testimony faces the same punishment as the accused (Deut 19:18–19).

6:20 My child, keep the commandment of your father See 1:8; note on 1:8–9:18.

6:21 Bind them on your heart The son is charged to keep his parents’ commandments close and ensure they will not be forgotten. Compare Exod 13:9.

6:24 an evil woman See note on Prov 2:16.

from the smoothness of the tongue of See 5:3 and note.

6:25 Do not desire her beauty Previously, the father mentioned only the flattering and seductive speech of the adulteress. Here, he describes her physical appeal as he warns his son to avoid her.

6:26 a loaf of bread Translations of this verse vary, but its most likely meaning is that a prostitute is far less costly—the price of a meal—than an adulterous relationship, which costs the son his life. This comparison does not endorse prostitution, just as the comparison to theft does not endorse stealing (v. 30). Prostitution is condemned elsewhere in Proverbs (23:27; 29:3).

6:29 any who touches her shall not go unpunished In the law, the punishment for adultery was death for both the man and the woman (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22).

6:30 People do not despise a thief May be a relative statement; people do despise thieves, but not as much as adulterers (Prov 6:33). A hungry thief can elicit sympathy.

6:32 lacks sense The Hebrew term used here, chasar-lev, suggests a lack of good sense. The person who lacks sense is lazy like the sluggard and pursues worthless things instead of working (12:11; 24:30). His unwise decisions and enjoyment of folly get him into trouble (compare 17:18; 15:21; 10:13; see note on 1:4). Like the fool and scoffer, he commits adultery, but his motivations are not the same (3:33–34; 6:32; 10:23; 13:19). He succumbs to the adulteress because he is gullible and weak (7:7; 9:4, 9:16).

The Fool in Proverbs

he destroys himself The negative consequences of sin or folly in Proverbs are often attributed to natural results rather than divine punishment (see note on 3:2). Here, the consequence for adultery is death.

6:34 jealousy is the fury of a husband The husband of the adulteress will ensure that retribution will be made.

6:35 He will not accept any compensation As opposed to the lender in vv. 1–5, who could be petitioned for mercy, the jealous husband will not accept any compensation (see note on v. 3).