Proverbs 6:1-2

1, 2. If thou be surety It is probable, as suggested by several critics, that אם , ( im,) if, is to be mentally carried forward, not only to the second clause of the first verse, but also to the two clauses of the second verse, the whole of these two verses constituting the protasis, or antecedent member of the sentence, which finds its apodosis, or conclusion, in the third verse.

Thy friend Or, neighbour; any one with whom he may have intercourse.

Stranger Another person. Some think the “friend” and “stranger” mean the same person; others, that they are distinct, the friend being the companion on whose behalf the young man pledges himself, the stranger probably the Phoenician money-lender, to whom he makes himself responsible as surety.

Stricken… hand (Compare Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 22:26; Job 17:3; Ezekiel 17:8;) if thou hast bound thyself in any way as security, bail, endorsement, to stand instead of another, or hast so mixed thyself in with his affairs as to injuriously involve thyself in case of his failure; if thou hast (Proverbs 6:2) in any wise inconsiderately and imprudently become enslaved or captured by words spoken in the way of pledge or promise. Zockler says: “The stranger is not the creditor, but the debtor, who in the first clause is designated as neighbour. For, according to Job 17:3, the surety gave his hand to the debtor, as a sign that he became bound for him.” “The Phoenician or Jewish money-lenders were ready to make their loans to the spendthrift. He was equally ready to find a companion who would become his security. “It was merely a form, just the writing of a few words, just the ‘clasping of the hands’ in token that the obligation was accepted, and that was all! It would be unfriendly to refuse; and yet, as the teacher warns his hearer, there might be in that moment of careless weakness the first link of a long chain of ignominy, galling, fretting, depriving life of all its peace.” Speaker’s Commentary. For the severity of the Hebrew law in regard to suretyship, compare 2 Kings 4:1; Matthew 18:25; also, Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 26:26; Proverbs 29:13. For the last clause, make sure thy friend, the Geneva Bible has, “solicit thy friende.”