What is the meaning of Proverbs 20:16? Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger – Solomon warns against rashly co-signing for someone you do not know. In ancient Israel, a garment could be pledged as down-payment (Exodus 22:26-27), so “take the garment” pictures insisting on tangible security before entering the arrangement. – Scripture repeatedly cautions that guaranteeing another person’s debt exposes you to loss (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15). – Wisdom here is protective, not punitive: if the borrower defaults, the guarantor—who offered to stand in—must feel the weight of responsibility he accepted. Tangible collateral helps ensure accountability, discouraging careless promises. get collateral if it is for a foreigner – The term “foreigner” points to someone outside one’s close community, whose reliability is harder to verify. Moses allowed lending to outsiders with interest while forbidding it among Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:20), acknowledging the different level of trust. – Requiring collateral when the borrower is distant or unknown is simply prudent stewardship. Jesus tells us to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16), and Paul urges believers to “owe no one anything” (Romans 13:8). – Practical take-aways: • Do not obligate your family’s resources for people whose character you cannot assess. • When generosity is appropriate, give rather than guarantee, so you are not ensnared by another’s failure (Luke 6:34-35). • A pledge should match the risk; even friendly loans benefit from clear terms and accountability (Philemon 18-19). summary Proverbs 20:16 offers timeless counsel: safeguard your resources by requiring real security before shouldering another’s debt, especially when the borrower is outside your circle of trust. God’s Word prizes compassion, yet it pairs compassion with responsibility, urging believers to exercise discernment so that generosity does not become entanglement. |
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