Proverbs 22:27

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?—If the mantle was taken in pledge, it had to be restored before sundown for the poor man to sleep in; but this merciful provision of the Law was evidently evaded. (Comp. Ezekiel 18:12.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:26,27. Every man ought to be just to himself, and his family; those are not so, who, by folly or other carelessness, waste what they have. 28. We are taught not to trespass on another man's right. And it is hard to find a truly industrious man. Such a man will rise. Seest thou a man diligent in the business of religion? He is likely to excel. Let us then be diligent in God's work.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He - i. e., The man to whom the surety has been given. The practice of distraining for payment of a debt, seems, though prohibited Exodus 22:27, to have become common.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

27. should he take, &c.—that is, the creditor.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Why wilt thou put thyself into the hands of such a man, who will exact the debt from thee without any compassion? For though God did not allow this practice, covetous creditors would frequently do it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

If thou hast nothing to pay,.... When the debtor this, and the creditor demands the debt of the surety: it is weakness in a man to be a surety for another, when he knows he is not able to pay the debt he is bound for, since it may be an injury to himself and family; but it is a piece of wickedness to engage for the payment of a debt, in case of insolvency, which he knows he is not able to answer; for this is deceiving and imposing upon the creditor; and therefore it is no wonder, being provoked by such ill usage, if he goes to extremity, as follows:

why should he take away thy bed from under thee? as in all likelihood he will, being irritated by such a conduct; and as he might, notwithstanding the law in Exodus 22:26; for that respects a pledge, and not a debt; and raiment pledged, the covering of a man when in bed, and not the bed itself; for even wife and children might be taken for debt, 2 Kings 4:1. This is said to deter from suretyship, especially in such circumstances; since a man may bring himself into such a condition as not to have a bed to lie on; yea, to have it taken from under him when upon it; and be turned out from house and home, naked and destitute.

Geneva Study Bible

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

27. he] i.e. the creditor.

Proverbs 22:27

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

A third distich follows:

26 Be not among those who strike hands,

     Among those who become surety for loans.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay,

     Why shall he take away thy bed from under thee?

To strike hands is equivalent to, to be responsible to any one for another, to stake one's goods and honour for him, Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18 - in a word, ערב, seq. acc., to pledge oneself for him (Genesis 43:9), or for the loan received by him, משּׁאה, Deuteronomy 24:10 (from השּׁה, with ב, of the person and accus. of the thing: to lend something to one on interest). The proverb warns against being one of such sureties (write בּערבים with Cod. 1294, and old impressions such as the Venice, 1521), against acting as they do; for why wouldest thou come to this, that when thou cast not pay (שׁלּם, to render a full equivalent reckoning, and, generally, to pay, Proverbs 6:31),

(Note: After Ben-Asher, the pointing is אם־אין־לך; while, on the contrary, Ben-Naphtali prefers אם־אין לך; vid., my Genesis (1869), pp. 74 (under Genesis 1:3) and 81. So, without any bearing on the sense, Ben-Asher points למּה with Tarcha, Ben-Naphtali with Mercha.)

he (the creditor) take away thy bed from under thee? - for, as Proverbs 20:16 says, thus improvident suretyships are wont to be punished.