Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Proverbs-Chapter 6

Prov 6.1-35 tells us about how a father gives his son parental counsel about taking on the debts of others; the sin of not working; who is a worthless man; seven things God hates; an exhortation to listen to parental instructions and to stay away from the harlot.

Prov 6.1-5 is advice against being a surety for another’s debt.

v 1…My son, if you become a surety (to pay a debt) of your neighbor, have given a pledge for a stranger (someone you know even less)

v 2…You have have been ensnared with the words of your mouth (entangled by your promise), have been caught with the words of your mouth (to pay the debt of another).

v 3…Do this (take this advice) then, my son, and deliver yourself (get out of your promise); since you have come into the hand (power) of your neighbor, go humble yourself (literally “offer thyself to be trodden down, throw thyself down”), and importune (plead with) your neighbor (plead with him to pay the debt quickly or to be released from the promise).

v 4…Do not give sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids (until these things are done, leave no stone unturned).

v 5…Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunters hand (they will strive and struggle to get out of the trap or snare), and like a bird from the hand of the fowler (do whatever it takes to get free quickly).

Prov 6.6-11 speaks about the blessings of hard work and not being idle.

v 6…Go to the ant, O sluggard (lazy person), observe her ways (carefully examine) and be wise (as it makes provision for itself).

v 7…Which, having no chief, officer or ruler (needed to oversee the works)

v 8…prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest (the work gets done before winter).

v 9…How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep (there is work to be done).

v 10…A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.

v 11…And your poverty (the result of being lazy and idle) will come in like a vagabond (a prowler that comes in quickly), and your need like an armed man (one with a shield).

Prov 6.12-19 speaks about the worthless and wicked person morally.

v 12…A worthless person (adam beliel), a wicked man (ish aven), is the one who walks with a false mouth (perverted speech, malicious lies).

v 13…Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet (as a signal for others to join in), who points with his fingers (to teach or convey to others their scorn).

v 14…Who with perversity in his heart devises evil continually (against the righteous, planning schemes to distress, disturb and ruin others).

v 15…Therefore his calamity (or breaking) will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing (it doesn’t say God’s judgment does this but it alludes to it).

Prov 6.16-19 gives us a list of seven (the number of completion) Yehovah hates. Solomon does this several times in Proverbs (30.15 for instance).

v 16…There are six things Yehovah hates (in a Adam Beliel or a Ish Aven), yes, seven which are an abomination to him (also why zara’at or “leprosy” comes).

v 17…Haughty (proud) eyes, a lying tongue (because one of God’s attributes is justice; without truth there is no justice-Prov 12.22, 19.5), and hands that shed innocent blood (1 Kings 2.32),

v 18…A heart (desire) that devises wicked plans (against God and man, thoughts of wickedness fabricated in their desires), feet that run rapidly to evil (to commit sin, especially murder and greed),

v 19…A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brethren (these seven sins are connected to how we treat others).

Prov 6.20-35 speaks about the contrast between the vitruou woman and the harlot. This contrast should not only be seen in the Peshat (literal) level, but also in the the Sowd (secret, hidden) level. The virtuous woman is a Torah-based faith in Yeshua, and the harlot is false religion and doctrine which is called “lawless” in the Scriptures, or “no law, without Torah or Torah-less-ness.” The problem spiritually is the harlot goes around portraying herself as the virtuous woman.

v 20…My son, observe the commandment (mitzvah) of your father and do not forsake the teaching (torah) of your mother (the duty of parents is to teach the Torah to their children).

v 21…Bind them (don’t lose them) continually on your heart (again this is a metaphor as in Deut 6.3-8 and is not to be taken literally); tie them around your neck (like spiritual jewelry).

v 22…When you walk about (go your way), they will lead you (guide you); when you sleep (in your dreams) they will watch over you (keep you from having bad dreams and nightmares because God protects the believer); and when you awake, they (literally “she”) will watch over you; and when you awake, they (she) will talk to you (on how to behave, go with you to assist).

v 23…For the commandment (mitzvah) is a lamp (Psa 119.105; Matt 25.2), and the teaching (torah) is a light (Rom 10.4; 2 Tim 3.16; Zeph 1.12).

v 24…To keep you from the evil woman (the harlot, false doctrine-Prov 2.16-22, 3.15-18, 5.3-23, 7.1-27; Deut 17.1-5), from the smooth tongue of the adulteress (spiritual adultery is walking contrary to the Torah).

v 25…Do not desire beauty in your heart (lust after her), nor let her catch you with her eyelids (seductive glances to capture you).

v 26…For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread (brought to poverty), and an adulteress hunts for the precious life (by bringing him into the hands of her jealous husband).

v 27…Can a man take fire into his bosom, and his clothes not be burned (no, so don’t play with fire)?

v 28…Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not get scorched (burning lust will hurt us, and unbelief will lead to the Lake of Fire).

v 29…So is the one who goes into his neighbor’s wife, whoever touches her will not go unpunished (be innocent or free from dishonor and punishment).

v 30…Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;

v 31…But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold (or completely-Matt 18.21-22), he must give all the substance of his house (to pay restitution).

v 32…The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking heart (sense, principles, morals); he who would destroy himself (soul) does it (to himself, he can’t blame others).

v 33…Wounds and disgrace he will find (from the husband and relatives), and his reproach will not be blotted out (as long as he lives, and after, like with David).

v 34…For jealousy enrages a man (the husband) and he will not spare in the day of vengeance (which is the opportunity to avenge himself if he finds the adulterer in his house or in bed with his wife. He may even brings charges in court, etc).

v 35…He will not regard (accept) any ransom (no amount of money will satisfy him, unlike a thief who can pay restitution and be free. The adulterer took something that cannot be replaced), nor will he be content though you give many gifts (only the life of the offender will satisfy him or obtain some legal remedy through prosecution).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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