Proverbs 22:27

Proverbs 22:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
• New International Version (NIV)if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?

Context of Proverbs 22:27

25Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape]. 26Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts. If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults], Why should his creditor take your bed from under you? 28Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set. 29Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:27 word by word

אִם־אֵֽין־לְךָ֥ לְשַׁלֵּ֑ם לָ֥מָּה יִקַּ֥ח מִ֝שְׁכָּבְךָ֗ מִתַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If thou hast nothing to payשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
• why should he take awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• thy bedמִשְׁכָּבmishkâb · bedH4904

Cross-references for Proverbs 22:27

• Proverbs 20:16[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.”
• Exodus 22:26If you ever take your [poor] neighbor’s robe in pledge, you must return it to him before sunset,
• 2 Kings 4:1Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].”

Commentaries on Proverbs 22:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27If thou hast nothing to pay - Should any man give security for more than he is worth? If he does, is it not a fraud on the very face of the transaction? Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? - The creditor will not pursue the debtor whom he knows to be worth nothing; but he will sue the bail or bondsman. And why shouldst thou put thyself in such circumstances as to expose thyself to the loss even of thy bed?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27He - 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.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-27Verses 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.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27This proverb's message is also found in Proverbs 6:1–5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2726-27. (Compare Pr 6:1; 17:18).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 22:27

• Bed
• Creditor
• Friendship
• Justice
• Pawn
• Property
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Evil
• Hide
• Lender
• Prudent
• Rob
• Train
• Nothing
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Sirach, the Alphabet of
• Wisdom

Commentaries on Proverbs 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings