Proverbs 11:15

15 adfligetur malo qui fidem facit pro extraneo qui autem cavet laqueos securus erit

Proverbs 11:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:15

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]
Or in "breaking shall be broken" F17, 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 fail, ( Isaiah 42:4 ) . Jarchi's note is,

``the wicked shall be broken, to whose heart idolatry is sweet;''
and he that hateth suretyship is sure;
or those "that strike" F18, that is, with the hand, used in suretyship; see ( Proverbs 6:1 ) ; such an one is safe from coming into trouble by such means. The Targum is,
``and hates those that place their hope in God.''

FOOTNOTES:

F17 (ewry er) "frangendo frangetur", Michaelis; so Pagninus and others.
F18 (Myeqwt) "complodentes", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius; "defigentes", Mercerus.

Proverbs 11:15 In-Context

13 qui ambulat fraudulenter revelat arcana qui autem fidelis est animi celat commissum
14 ubi non est gubernator populus corruet salus autem ubi multa consilia
15 adfligetur malo qui fidem facit pro extraneo qui autem cavet laqueos securus erit
16 mulier gratiosa inveniet gloriam et robusti habebunt divitias
17 benefacit animae suae vir misericors qui autem crudelis est et propinquos abicit
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.