Proverbs 22:26

“Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, etc.] Or “among them”f614, of the number of them, that do as they do, give their hand or their bond for others; he surety for them, as it is explained in the following clause; (see <200601>Proverbs 6:1 17:18); [or] of them that are sureties for debts; contracted by others; that engage for the payment of them, in case the principal fails: and it is much if persons that keep indifferent company, angry and furious men, who are often in broils and quarrels, and spend their time and substance in strife and contention, are not drawn into engagements of this kind.”

“(Compare Pro 6:1; Pro 17:18).”

“Strike hands - i. e., Bind themselves as surety for what another owes (compare the margin reference). return to 'Top of Page'”

“22:26-27 Saying 3: The message of this proverb is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13.”

“Pro 6:1-5, Pro 11:15, Pro 17:18, Pro 27:13 Proverbs 22:27”

“A third distich follows: 26 Be not among those who strike hands, Among those who become surety for loans. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why shall he take away thy bed from under thee? To strike hands is equivalent to, to be responsible to any one for another, to stake one's goods and honour for him, Pro 6:1; Pro 11:15; Pro 17:18 \- in a word, ערב, seq. acc., to pledge oneself for him ( Gen 43:9), or for the loan received by him, משּׁאה, Deu 24:10 (from השּׁה, with ב, of the person and accus. of the thing: to lend something to one on interest). The proverb warns against being one of such sureties (write בּערבים with Cod. 1294, and old impressions such as the Venice, 1521), against acting as…”