In biblical terms, a "pledge" refers to a security or guarantee given to ensure the fulfillment of a promise or obligation, often in the context of a loan or debt. The concept of a pledge is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern practice of providing collateral to secure a financial or contractual agreement. The Bible addresses the ethical and moral considerations surrounding pledges, emphasizing fairness, compassion, and justice.

Old Testament References

The Mosaic Law contains specific instructions regarding pledges, particularly in the context of lending to the poor. In Exodus 22:26-27 , the law states: "If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate." This passage highlights the importance of compassion and the need to respect the dignity of the borrower, ensuring that the pledge does not deprive them of basic necessities.

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 further elaborates on the treatment of pledges: "When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; be sure to return it to him by sunset so that he may sleep in his own cloak. Then he will bless you, and it will be credited to you as righteousness before the LORD your God." This passage underscores the principle of respecting personal boundaries and the dignity of the borrower, as well as the moral obligation to act righteously.

Prophetic Writings

The prophets also address the issue of pledges, often in the context of social justice and the exploitation of the poor. In Amos 2:6-8 , the prophet condemns Israel for their unjust practices: "They sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the earth and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane My holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their god, they drink wine obtained through fines." Here, the misuse of pledges is part of a broader critique of societal corruption and injustice.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly address the concept of pledges in the same legalistic terms as the Old Testament, the principles of justice, mercy, and love for one's neighbor are foundational to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The ethical treatment of others, including in financial matters, is a recurring theme. For instance, in Matthew 5:42 , Jesus teaches, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." This reflects a spirit of generosity and concern for the well-being of others, which would naturally extend to the handling of pledges.

Theological Implications

The biblical treatment of pledges reflects a broader theological concern for justice, mercy, and the protection of the vulnerable. The laws and prophetic critiques emphasize that financial transactions should not exploit or oppress the poor but should be conducted with integrity and compassion. The concept of a pledge serves as a reminder of the ethical responsibilities that accompany financial dealings and the call to love one's neighbor as oneself.Pledge

[LOAN]

Pledge

The Jewish law protected the poor who were obliged to give security for a loan or the fulfillment of a contract. If a man pawned his robe, the usual covering of the cool nights, it must be returned on the same day, Exodus 22:26-27. The creditor could not enter a house and take what he pleased; and the millstone being a necessary of life, could not be taken, De 24:6,10,11. Compare Job 22:6 24:3,7. Idolaters sometimes disregarded these prohibitions, Am 2:6-8. See LOANS. Pledges are necessary from the vicious, who cannot be trusted, Proverbs 20:16.

see LOAN. 1. (n.) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.

2. (n.) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage.

3. (n.) A hypothecation without transfer of possession.

4. (n.) Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties.

5. (n.) A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.

6. (n.) A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.

7. (n.) To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.

8. (n.) To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor.

9. (n.) To secure performance of, as by a pledge.

10. (n.) To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self.

11. (n.) To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.

PLEDGE

plej (verbs chabhal (10 times), `arabh (2 Kings 18:23 equals Isaiah 36:8); nouns chahal (Ezekiel 18:12, 16; Ezekiel 33:15), chabcholah (Ezekiel 18:7), `arubbah), (1 Samuel 17:18), erabhon (Genesis 38:17, 18, 20); also abhoT (Deuteronomy 24:10-13) and (the Revised Version (British and American) only) abhTiT (Habakkuk 2:6)): All these words have about the same meaning.

(1) The "pledge" is, as in modern English, security given for future payment (Genesis 38:17-24) or conduct (Habakkuk 2:6, where the conquered nations have given guaranties of their subserviency to the Chaldeans; the King James Version's "thick clay" here rests on a misreading of the Hebrew). In 2 Kings 18:23 (equals Isaiah 36:8) the "pledge" is a wager (so the Revised Version margin). Rabshakeh mockingly dares Hezekiah to stake a "pledge" that he can produce 2,000 men for the defense of Jerusalem, although the mighty Assyrian host has that number of horses alone. The general point of the obscure passage Proverbs 20:16 (equals 27:13) is that he who guarantees strangers needs a guaranty himself. 1 Samuel 17:18 is uncertain and the text may be corrupt. If not, the "pledge" is some (prearranged?) token of the welfare of David's brethren.

(2) Most of the occurrences of "pledge," however, deal with the debts of the very poor, who had no property that they could spare even temporarily. Consequently, the exaction of a pledge from such persons worked genuine hardship, and to take a pledge at all was a cruel act (Job 24:3), although of course the dishonesty of withholding a pledge (Ezekiel 18:7; Ezekiel 33:15) was worse. Lowest in the scale was the creditor who took the garment the borrower was wearing (Amos 2:8 Job 22:6; Job 24:9 margin), and special legislation controlled this practice. A garment (the outer "cloak" (see DRESS) not worn while doing manual labor) so taken must be restored at night (Exodus 22:26 Deuteronomy 24:12, 13), for it was the usual covering of the sleeper. (Apparently, though, the creditor regained custody of it in the daytime until the debt was paid.) A widow's clothing, however, was entirely exempt (Deuteronomy 24:17), as was the handmill used for bread-making (Deuteronomy 24:6). The lender had no right of entry into the borrower's house to obtain the pledge (Deuteronomy 24:10, 11), but it is not said that he could not dictate what he would accept; indeed, the contrary is inconceivable.

(3) the American Standard Revised Version gives "pledge" for the King James Version and the English Revised Version "faith" in 1 Timothy 5:12.

See also EARNEST.

Burton Scott Easton

728. arrabon -- an earnest (a part payment in advance for security ...
... 728 ("down-payment pledge") is the regular term in NT times for "," ie that
guarantees will be given. 728 () then represents backed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/728.htm - 7k

2425. hikanos -- sufficient, fit
... considerable (4), enough (1), fit (4), good many (1), large (1), large sum (1),
length* (1), long (5), long while (1), many (9), number (1), pledge (1), satisfy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2425.htm - 8k

1860. epaggelia -- a summons, a promise
... message, promise. From epaggello; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge;
especially a divine assurance of good) -- message, promise. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1860.htm - 7k

1906. eperotema -- an inquiry, a demand
... eperotema Phonetic Spelling: (ep-er-o'-tay-mah) Short Definition: inquiry, request,
appeal Definition: inquiry, request, appeal, demand; a profession, pledge. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1906.htm - 6k

3860. paradidomi -- to hand over, to give or deliver over, to ...
... Verb Transliteration: paradidomi Phonetic Spelling: (par-ad-id'-o-mee) Short Definition:
I hand over, deliver, betray Definition: I hand over, pledge, hand down ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3860.htm - 11k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... You do well; " (). Word Origin from peitho Definition faith, faithfulness NASB
Word Usage faith (238), faithfulness (3), pledge (1), proof (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

2254a. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... 2254, 2254a. chabal. 2254b . to bind, pledge. Transliteration: chabal
Short Definition: pledge. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/2254a.htm - 5k

6162. erabon -- a pledge
... 6161, 6162. erabon. 6163 . a pledge. Transliteration: erabon Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-aw-bone') Short Definition: pledge. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6162.htm - 6k

2258. chabol -- a pledge
... 2257, 2258. chabol. 2259 . a pledge. Transliteration: chabol Phonetic
Spelling: (khab-ole') Short Definition: pledge. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2258.htm - 6k

5667. abot -- a pledge, article pledged
abot or abot. 5666, 5667. abot or abot. 5668 . a pledge, article pledged.
Transliteration: abot or abot Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ote') Short Definition: pledge ...
/hebrew/5667.htm - 6k

6161. arubbah -- a thing exchanged, pledge, token
... arubbah. 6162 . a thing exchanged, pledge, token. Transliteration: arubbah Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-oob-baw') Short Definition: guarantor. ... pledge, surety. ...
/hebrew/6161.htm - 6k

6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
... arab. 6149 . to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange. Transliteration: arab
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rab') Short Definition: associate. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6148.htm - 6k

5670. abat -- to take or give a pledge
... to take or give a pledge. Transliteration: abat Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bat') Short
Definition: borrow. ... borrow, break ranks, fetch a pledge, lend, surely. ...
/hebrew/5670.htm - 6k

2260b. chabolah -- a pledge
... chabolah. 2260c . a pledge. Transliteration: chabolah Short Definition: pledge.
Word Origin from chabal Definition a pledge NASB Word Usage pledge (1). ...
/hebrew/2260b.htm - 5k

8594. taarubah -- a pledge
... a pledge. Transliteration: taarubah Phonetic Spelling: (tah-ar-oo-baw') Short
Definition: hostages. ... From arab; suretyship, ie (concretely) a pledge -- + hostage. ...
/hebrew/8594.htm - 6k

2254. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... 2253, 2254. chabal. 2254a . to bind, pledge. Transliteration: chabal
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-bal') Short Definition: band. band ...
/hebrew/2254.htm - 5k

Sorrow the Pledge of Joy.
... SORROW THE PLEDGE OF JOY. 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall
be comforted.'"Matthew v.4. Grief, then, sorrow, pain of ...
/.../macdonald/hope of the gospel/sorrow the pledge of joy.htm

Abandonment a Pledge of Predestination.
... ON THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.CHAPTER I. ON THE NATURE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE STATE
OF ABANDONMENT: SECTION III."Abandonment a Pledge of Predestination. ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/section iii abandonment a pledge of.htm

To Daniella of Orvieto Clothed with the Habit of St. Dominic
... LETTERS TO DANIELLA OF ORVIETO CLOTHED WITH THE HABIT OF ST. DOMINIC. Thou seest,
then, that such men enjoy in this life the pledge of life eternal. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to daniella of orvieto clothed.htm

Chapter twenty
... Into this meeting have come all those who made the pledge to do as Jesus would do,
and the time is spent in mutual fellowship, confession, question as to what ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty.htm

But, Says Some One, "Are These Things to be Understood of the Lord ...
... This also the Prophet foretold, saying, "And they bound him and conducted Him as
a pledge of friendship (xenium) to King Jarim." But some one objects, "But ...
/.../21 but says some one.htm

Go in Peace
... says to me, "In what respect are believers saved?" I answer, that they are saved
in the price, in the promise, in the principles, and in the pledge of salvation ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/go in peace.htm

Why the Greeks did not Mention Our Histories.
... truth. If you please, then, study these things carefully, that you may have
a compendium [693] and pledge of the truth. Footnotes: ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxx why the greeks did.htm

Chapter twenty-three
... the First Church. The whole country had watched the progress of the pledge
as it had become history in so many lives. Mr. Maxwell ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-three.htm

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell ...
... The resurrection of Christ is an evidence of our justification, the cause of our
quickening, or vivification, and the ground and pledge of our last resurrection ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxi but if the.htm

Of the Most Holy Miracle of St Francis in Taming the Fierce Wolf ...
... Said St Francis again: "Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith that I may trust
to this thy promise?" and putting out his hand he received the pledge of the ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xxi of the most.htm

Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act;
a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of ...
/p/pledge.htm - 28k

Earnest (33 Occurrences)
... The word thus rendered is the same as that rendered "pledge" in Genesis 38:17-20;
"indeed, the Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin languages ...
/e/earnest.htm - 20k

Loan (9 Occurrences)
... Limitations are prescribed by the law to the taking of a pledge from the
borrower. The outer garment in which a man slept at night ...
/l/loan.htm - 16k

Surety (21 Occurrences)
... 18; 20:16). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A pledge, guarantee or security
to insure a debt or obligation. 2. (n.) That which ...
/s/surety.htm - 18k

Engage (20 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear
doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or ...
/e/engage.htm - 14k

Foretaste (4 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:23 And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a
foretaste and pledge of the glorious future, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as ...
/f/foretaste.htm - 8k

Security (41 Occurrences)
... deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the
performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge. ...
/s/security.htm - 19k

Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... (1.) The debtor was to deliver up as a pledge to the creditor what he could
most easily dispense with (Deuteronomy 24:10, 11). (2 ...
/d/debtor.htm - 16k

Plight (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) imp. & pp of to pledge. 2. (v.) imp. ... 5. (n.) That which is exposed to risk;
that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge. ...
/p/plight.htm - 8k

Robbery (18 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 18:7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge,
has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has ...
/r/robbery.htm - 16k

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