Proverbs 20:25

“devoureth . . . holy--or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.”

“Better, It is a snare to a man to utter a vow (of consecration) rashly, and after vows to inquire whether he can fulfill them. Both clauses are a protest against the besetting sin of rash and hasty vows. Compare the marginal reference. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A snare - It brings guilt upon him. After - After a man has made vows to enquire for ways to break them. Proverbs 20:26”

“20:25 Counting the cost is particularly important when making a promise to God (see Judg 11:29-40; Eccl 5:4-6).”

“a snare: Pro 18:7; Lev 5:15, Lev 22:10-15, Lev 27:30; Mal 3:8-10 after: Lev 27:9, Lev 27:10, Lev 27:31; Num 30:2-16; Ecc 5:4-6; Mat 5:33 Proverbs 20:26”

“25 It is a snare to a man to cry out hastily "holy;" And first after vows to investigate. Two other interpretations of the first line have been proposed. The snare of a man devours, i.e., destroys the holy; but then מוקשׁ אדם must be an expression of an action, instead of an expression of an endurance, which is impossible. The same is true against the explanation: the snare of a man devours, i.e., consumes, eats up the holy, which as such is withdrawn from common use. Jerome with his devotare sanctos, and Luther with his das Heilige lestern \[to calumniate the holy\], give to לוּע = בּלע a meaning which loses itself in the arbitrary. Accordingly, nothing is to be done with the meaning…”