Proverbs 24:11

“If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, etc.] Or “taken for or unto death”f658, in a violent way; who are taken by thieves and robbers, and used in a barbarous manner, as the man in the parable, whom the priest and Levite took no notice of, and was helped by the good Samaritan; or who are unjustly sentenced and appointed to death by the civil magistrate; if any know their innocency, it becomes them to do all they can to save their lives, by bearing a testimony for them; for “a true witness delivereth souls”, (<201425>Proverbs 14:25); or by interceding for them, and giving counsel and advice concerning them, or by any lawful way they can; as Reuben delivered Joseph,…”

“Neglect of known duty is sin (Jam 4:17). ready--literally, "bowing down" to be slain--that is, unjustly. God's retributive justice cannot be avoided by professed ignorance.”

“Literally: “Deliver those that are drawn unto death, And those who totter to the slaughter - if Thou withdraw ...” i. e., “O withdraw them,” save them from their doom; in contrast to Proverbs 24:10. The structure and meaning are both somewhat obscure; but the sentence is complete in itself, and is not a mere hypothesis concluded in the following verses. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Deliver - When it is in thy power. Drawn - By the violence of lawless men. Proverbs 24:12”

“24:11-12 Saying 25: The wise do what they can to prevent injustice and suffering (e.g., Job 29:12-17).”

“Sa1 26:8, Sa1 26:9; Job 29:17; Psa 82:4; Isa 58:6, Isa 58:7; Luk 10:31, Luk 10:32, Luk 23:23-25; Act 18:17, Act 21:31, Act 21:32, Act 23:10, Act 23:23-35; Jo1 3:16, Jo1 3:17 Proverbs 24:12”

“Now, again, we meet with proverbs of several lines. The first here is a hexastich: 11 Deliver them that are taken to death, And them that are tottering to destruction, oh stop them! 12 If thou sayest, "We knew not of it indeed," - It is not so: The Weigher of hearts, who sees through it, And He that observeth thy soul, He knoweth it, And requiteth man according to his work. If אם is interpreted as a particle of adjuration, then אם־תּחשׂוך is equivalent to: I adjure thee, forbear not (cf. Neh 13:25 with Isa 58:1), viz., that which thou hast to do, venture all on it (lxx, Syr., Jerome). But the parallelism requires us to take together מטים להרג (such as with tottering steps are led forth to…”