Proverbs 17:18

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. A MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING STRIKETH HANDS (IN TOKEN OF HIS ENGAGING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER), (AND) BECOMETH SURETY IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS FRIEND - implying habitual rashness in suretiship. "In the presence of his friend" (Maurer, for "his friend," translates, 'another'); namely, in the presence of the creditor. Luther takes it, If you wish to help your friend, be surety for him, but not in his presence, which will increase his negligence. The believer is worse than a pagan, if he is not provident for his own household (). So close is the connection of prudence in the household with prudence in religious concerns in general, that the two generally stand or fall together....

Verse Proverbs 17:18. _STRIKETH HANDS_] _Striking_ each other's hands, or _shaking hands_, was anciently the _form_ in concluding a contract. Proverbs 6:1....

Compare the marginal reference. Since nothing is nobler than the self-sacrifice of the true friend Proverbs 17:17, so nothing is more contemptible than the weakness which allows itself to be sacrificed for the sake of worthless associates. IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS FRIEND - i. e., “On behalf of” or “to his friend for some third person.”...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 17:1 (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:17; Proverbs 16:8.) BETTER (sweeter) IS A DRY MORSEL, AND QUIETNESS THEREWITH. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it (John 13:26). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Ab

A MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING STRIKETH HANDS,.... With his friend's creditor, and becomes surety for him; and thereby acts a very unwise part, and shows himself to want understanding, by taking such a step, which may prove the ruin of himself and family: for though a man may and should love his friend at all times; yet he is not obliged, under a notion of friendship, to injure himself and his family, or to run the risk of it; if he does, it is a plain case he wants wisdom and discretion, see Proverbs 6:1; [AND] BECOMETH SURETY IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS FRIEND; not the creditor, but the debtor; and to pass his word for him, when he is present, shows that his own word will not be taken; and that he is either thought to be in bad circumstances, and incapable of payment at the proper time; or else that he is a bad man, of dishonest principles, and will not; and in either case it is

CHAPTER 17 DIVERSE PROVERBS Of the twenty-eight proverbs found in this chapter we point out but a few. “The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). Man may try silver and gold, but God only the hearts. And He tries the hearts by the refining process, trials and afflictions, the process which rests in His own hands. (See Psalms 66:10; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7 .) “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9). To

PROVERBS 17. Fresh points are the rise of the able and clever slave to a place in the family (Proverbs 17:2), the practice of bribes (Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:23), the value of adversity as a test of friendship (Proverbs 17:17): also the subject of suretyship, dealt with in Proverbs 6:1, is resumed (Proverbs 17:18). PROVERBS 17:1. For the connexion betwee

MAN. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14. UNDERSTANDING. Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for the understanding in it. See note on Proverbs 1:2....

_understanding_ Lit. HEART, as in Proverbs 17:16. _surety_ See Proverbs 6:1 note....

TEXT Proverbs 17:11-19 11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. 14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling. 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding? 17. A friend loveth at all times; And brother is born for adversity. 18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becomet