Proverbs 6
The Book of Proverbs belongs to wisdom category. Proverbs 6 is the selected chapter to be studied. When reading Proverbs 6 in one breath, one may get lost on its subjects. One can deduce five topics in this chapter in order to gain a better understanding of each.
Table 1 - Five Topics of Proverbs 6
| Topics | Verses |
| Advice on mistake | |
| Laziness | |
| To identify evil person | |
| Seven things detestable to God | |
| Exercising of God’s Commandments & Teachings |
Advice on mistake (verse 1 to 5)
The mistakes mentioned in verse 1 to 2 are
- putting up security by behalf of others
- struck hands in pledge
- trapped by one’s own words
First of all, one needs to understand the nature of these mistakes; otherwise, one will take these three conditions literally instead of figuratively – being parabollic[1]. We are certain the Bible was not against lending money to people (Matthew 5:42). In fact, in Deuteronomy 15:1-18 the law of lending and borrowing were clearly stated. Also, the Bible probably was not against on “struck hands in pledge” or business deal - striking hands in pledge was a gesture something like shaking hands. It was like “signing on the dotted line.”[2] God made covenant with His people; amongst people they also had agreements (e.g. Abraham & His servant to look for a wife for Isaac in Genesis 24). Of course, God was not telling us not to live by our words or being irresponsible to what we had promised. The nature of the conditions was to be taken into account, not their literal statements. The very common nature among these three conditions was being trapped by mistake or under debt by false trust. False trust refers to putting our trust on other things or people before God. This surely leads us into spiritual debt - our heart being trapped by things and people instead of freeing our heart to God.
Likewise, “Proverbs Bible Study Commentary” by Keith Simons stated[3]:
Sometimes we place ourselves in danger. Our own choices can become like traps. Many people suffer from alcohol or from dangerous drugs. Originally, they just wanted to enjoy themselves. When they tried to stop, they failed. Now they must ask God to help them. They must remember that God is greater than them. A doctor could also help them. We all do wrong things against God. This behaviour is also like a trap. We cannot free ourselves. Paul wrote, ‘When I want to do good things, evil thoughts attract me. My spirit loves God’s law. But my body fights against my mind. I am like someone in prison. This is because evil behaviour controls my body.’ (Romans 7:21-23) But there is an answer to this problem. God can free us. If we ask God, then he will forgive us. And he will help us to control our behaviour. He will teach discipline to us. Paul continued, ‘Thank-you, God. God frees me through Jesus Christ.’ (Romans 7:25)
When we are trapped in false trust, the resolution is given at verse 3 to 5. The resolution consisted of four items in series: objective, attitude, action in a quick and with all might manner. The object is to free oneself from trap. The attitude is to be humble and plea; and be alert (“allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids” as analogy of being alert) on one’s mistake. The action is to free oneself in an agile and struggling with all might fashion of two given similes: “like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler”.
Laziness (verse 6 to 11)
The lesson started with an observation of nature in verses 6 to 8. This is a good illustration of “Proverbs has a universalistic rather than particularistic application”.[4] Also, it is “dealing with such a broad range of subjects, does not include any ‘unscientific’ statements. For instance, Proverbs 6:6–8 accurately describes the social structure of the ant, something that shows acute insight and careful observation”.[5] It uses a very common type of insect - ants, which can be found in almost every corner of the earth, sharing common diligence characteristic with similar social structure, as the media of teaching. In eastern culture, ants being viewed as hardworking beings: gathering food at harvest for hibernation. One major mistake we often made in Biblical interpretation was to base on our culture understanding then jumped into assumption and conclusion then closing up our Bible without further investigation, and thought we had understood all but in fact we had missed the essence of the teaching. To most people, this would be miss-interpreted as we should work hard to save up for ourselves; therefore, many would work three full time jobs, putting trust on one’s own ability or even end up putting trust on money disregarding other important relationships in life such as family, friends, and even God. This continuous regardless practice leads to spiritual, moral and social problems. Also, some people would miss-interpret it as always keeping busy on functional tasks with no time for people around them.
The virtue of wisdom is not in being busy but in having a proper view of forthcoming needs that motivate one to action (cf. 10:5). Those who act only when commanded do not possess wisdom.[6]
Following the analogy of ants, verses 9 to 11 reveal teaching with similes of “property will come like a bandit” and “scarcity like an armed man”, which created very vivid images. One has to work hard for one’s and household’s provision. When reading verses 9 to 11, one must be careful that not to add one’s own little wit on top of it - it did NOT stated that if one works hard then one is being guaranteed from under poverty. The teaching was that one must not be idle, but to work with a purpose in life. Even for people who have retired, or born with silver spoons in their mouths, they must not stay idle, but to work meaningfully and making oneself useful. Poverty and scarcity can be applied to spiritual, mind or physical besides finance.
To identify evil person (verse 12 to 15)
In order to identify and be alert on evil person around us, the key is in verse 13: “Look out for his signals”, which the signals stated in verse 12 and 14:
- speaking false words
- plotting evil plans in his heart
- starting arguments
The results are echoing “A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18). “He is like the bad tree in Matthew 7:18. The man’s actions are evil, so his plan will also be evil. ”[7] The teaching was to be alert, able to recognize signs, and consequences of evil people; therefore, to avoid such association. “What relief can he expect that has disobliged all mankind? He shall come to his end and none shall help him, Dan. 11:45.”[8]
Seven things detestable to God (verse 16 to 19)
God opposes 6 things and hates 7 thing - following list base on “Holman Christian Standard Bible”:
1. Arrogant eyes (verse 17)
2. Lying tongue (verse 17)
3. Hands that shed innocent blood (verse 17)
4. Heart that plots wicked schemes (verse 18)
5. Feet eager to run to evil (verse 18)
6. Lying witness who gives false testimony (verse 19)
7. Stirring up trouble among brothers (verse 19)
Let’s pay attention to the numbering pattern. “The six . . . seven pattern is also used in Job 5:19, and a similar pattern of other numbers plus one is used in Proverbs 30:15-16, 18-19, 21-31. The purpose of this kind of numerical pattern (x and x + 1) is not to give a complete list. Instead it is to stress the final (x + 1) item, as the culmination or product of its preceding items. ”[9] Here, the product of the first six items leads to “stirring up trouble among brothers”, which is lack of peace in relationship. “Contrast this verse with Psalm 133:1. ‘It is good when brothers live together calmly.’ The evil man wants to start an argument, or even a war.”[10] Please note that the word “brothers” in verse 19 does not only refer to blood related brothers, it also contains a synonym meaning which also refers to our neighbours and friends.
Exercising of God’s Commandments & Teachings (verse 20 to 35)
Verse 20 to 24 sated instructions on exercising command and teaching from parents which should be given form God’s Law as those command and teaching consist of characteristics of guidance, protection (Proverbs 2:11, as Fee & Stuart in “How to Read the Bible for All its Worth” stated that “Proverbs must be read as a collection”[11]) and counselling (Proverbs 6:22). Following are instructions on exercising the Lord’s commandments and teaching:
· Always bind them to your heart (verse 21)
· Always tie them around your neck (verse 21)
· Commandment is a lamp (verse 23)
· Teaching is a light (verse 23)
Jews literally practice tying scriptures to their foreheads base on the teaching of Deuteronomy 6:4-9. “Tefillin is actually a three thousand year old Jewish ritual of wrapping leather straps attached to small boxes of scripture around the forehead, arm and hand while praying. According to one Rabbi: ‘When you put Tefillin on your arm symbolically you are marrying yourself to God in a way that you will obey his commandments and his words that are given in the Torah. And you're also putting them on your head and your brain so that you think about them all the time.’”[12] To Christians, we do not tie little booklets of Bible around our necks in front of our heart. Occasionally, we see some Christians wear necklaces with cross pendants for decorations or signs. Most people should able to interpret verse 21 as metaphors that we should put God’s commandments and teachings into our heart that we love and eager to follow, not just brain level acknowledgement; and around our necks like we live on them, being fed and breath through. Verse 23 contains another set of metaphors, which reflects Psalm 119:105.
By exercising above instructions, then Lord’s commandments and teachings will become effective to the practitioners:
· Guide you when you walk here and there [anywhere and anytime] (verse 22)
· Watch over you when you lie down (verse 22)
· Talk to you when you wake up (verse 22)
· Corrective instructions are the way to life (verse 23)
· Protect you from an evil woman and flattering tongue of stranger (verse 24)
In most of the oriental proverbs, the beneficiary usually is targeted towards parents, family, society, or country. From the above we can see that “unlike other proverbs in the Orient, biblical proverbs reveal a distinctively high morality”.[13] A morality leads to holistic (soul, mind and body) purification by building personal relationship with God, flowing from internal to external; from hearts into actions.
After giving overall statements on instructions to the Lord’s commandments and teachings and corresponding benefits, verse 25 to 35 drills into a specific example. The example is to tell us not to allow our hearts go astray from Lord’s commandments (being unfaithful to God); of a more specific example is that do not lust into adultery. Personally, this does not only refer to adultery acts among people, but also referring God’s people being unfaithful to God (putting others before God or moulding God into one owns’ desired form) which is against the first of ten commandments. Verse 27 and 28 are effective use of questions to arouse users’ thoughts; the answers to both questions are impossible; therefore, to illustrate the inevitability of punishment on unfaithfulness. In verse 30 to 32, proverb points out the seriousness of unfaithfulness. There is compensation on the offence of stealing due to physical need - hunger. However, no forgiveness on the offence of unfaithfulness, and this is mirror to Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10: “anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven”. This is a total self destructive offence in which no mercy will be given (i.e. no salvation), as stated in verse 32 to 35.
[1] Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart, How to Read The Bible for All Its Worth, (
[2]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ;
[3] Keith Simons, Proverbs Bible Study Commentary: Solomon’s wise lessons, http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/proverbs1to9-lbw.htm#proverbs6
[4]Richards, Larry ; Richards,
[5]Richards, Larry ; Richards,
[6]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ;
[7] Keith Simons, Proverbs Bible Study Commentary: Solomon’s wise lessons, http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/proverbs1to9-lbw.htm#proverbs6
[8]Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume.
[9]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ;
[10] Keith Simons, Proverbs Bible Study Commentary: Solomon’s wise lessons, http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/proverbs1to9-lbw.htm#proverbs6
[11] Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart, How to Read The Bible for All Its Worth, (
[12] http://www.dare2share.org/devotions/jewish-wrap
[13]Richards, Larry ; Richards,
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