Proverbs 11:15

“He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it], etc.] Or in “breaking shall be broken”f305, ruined and undone; he engaging or becoming a bondsman for one whose circumstances he knew not; and these being bad bring a load upon him, such an heavy debt as crushes him to pieces. Mr. Henry observes that our Lord Jesus Christ became a surety for us when we were strangers, and he smarted for it, he was bruised and wounded for our sins; but then he knew our circumstances, and what the consequence would be, and became a surety on purpose to pay the whole debt and set us free; which he was capable of doing: without being broken or becoming a bankrupt himself; for he was not broken, nor did he…”

“(Compare Pro 6:1). suretiship--(Compare Margin), the actors put for the action, which may be lawfully hated.”

“See the marginal reference. The play upon “sure” and “suretiship” in the the King James Version (though each word is rightly rendered) has nothing corresponding to it in the Hebrew, and seems to have originated in a desire to give point to the proverb. return to 'Top of Page'”

“11:15 This message is repeated in 6:1-5; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13.”

“that is surety: Pro 6:1-5, Pro 17:18, Pro 20:16, Pro 22:26, Pro 22:27 smart: Heb. be sore broken suretiship: Heb. those that strike hands Proverbs 11:16”

“There follow now two proverbs regarding kindness which brings injury and which brings honour: It fares ill, nothing but ill, with one who is surety for another; But he who hateth suretyship remaineth in quietness. More closely to the original: It goes ill with him; for the proverb is composed as if the writer had before his eyes a definite person, whom one assails when he for whom he became security has not kept within the limits of the performance that was due. Regarding ערב with the accus. of the person: to represent one as a surety for him, and זר as denoting the other (the stranger), vid., at Pro 6:1. The meaning of רע ירוע is seen from Pro 20:16. ירוע is, like Pro 13:20, the fut. Niph.…”