Surety

Surety - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

One who becomes responsible for another. Christ is the surety of the better covenant (Heb. 7:22). In him we have the assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out. Solomon warns against incautiously becoming security for another (Prov. 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16).

Surety - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SU'RETY, n. Certainty; indubitableness.

Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs-- Gen 15.

1. Security; safety.

Yet for the more surety they looked round about.

2. Foundation of stability; support.

We our state

Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;

On other surety none.

3. Evidence; ratification; confirmation.

She call'd the saints to surety.

That she would never put it from her finger,

Unless she gave it to yourself.

4. Security against loss or damage; security for payment.

There remains unpaid

A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which

One part of Aquitain is bound to us.

5. In law, one that is bound with and for another; one who enters into a bond or recognizance to answer for another's appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt or for the performance of some act, and who, in case of the principal debtor's failure, is compellable to pay the debt or damages; a bondsman; a bail.

He that is surety for a stranger, shall smart for it. Prov 11.

Thy servant became surety for the lad to my father. Gen 44.

6. In Scripture, Christ is called ""the surety of a better testament."" Heb 7:22. He undertook to make atonement for the sins of men, and thus prepare the way to deliver them from the punishment to which they had rendered themselves liable.

7. A hostage.

shoor'-ti: This word is used in three different connections or groups:

(1) As a derivative of the word "sure" it means "of a certainty" or "surely."--In Ge 15:13 the infinitive absolute of the verb is used to give emphasis to the idea of the verb and is rendered "of a surety." In Ge 18:13 the Hebrew 'omnam is translated "of a surety." In Ge 26:9 'akh is similarly rendered, and has the force of our "indeed." In Ac 12:11 alethos, is translated in the King James Version "of a surety," but better in the Revised Version (British and American) "of a truth."

(2) In the sense of security or pledge for a person.--This means that one person may become security for another, that such a one will do a certain thing at a time in the future. Judah was "surety" to his father Jacob that Benjamin would safely return from Egypt (Ge 43:9). He pledged his life that the younger brother would return safely. He tells Joseph (Ge 44:32) how he had become surety for Benjamin, and offers to become Joseph's slave for the sake of his brother. Job says (Job 17:3), "Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; who is there that will strike hands with me?" The striking of hands refers to the action or gesture by which the surety or pledge was publicly manifested and thus ratified. Job here beseeches God to become surety for him, to pledge him that some time in the future He will cause Job's innocence to be made known and be acknowledged by God Himself. In Isa 38:14 Hezekiah says, "O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety." He wishes God to give him a pledge of some kind, to go security for him in such a way that he will surely be saved out of his sickness and distress. Jesus is called "the surety (egguos) of a better covenant" (Heb 7:22). Jesus is the pledge or surety that through Him we may obtain the assurance and certainty that a more excellent covenant has been established by God, and are assured also of the truth of the promises connected with it.

(3) It is used to describe the practice of going security for another by striking hands with that person and becoming responsible for money or any object loaned.--The Book of Proverbs unhesitatingly condemns the practice. No mention is made of it in the Mosaic Law, as if the custom were then practically unknown. The Book of Proverbs makes no distinction between a stranger and a neighbor; the person who does such a thing is likened unto an animal caught in a trap. He is exhorted to sleep no more until he has got out of the trap, or freed himself from this obligation (Pr 6:1-5). The wisdom of such advice has been abundantly verified by experience. It does not necessarily preclude certain special cases, where the practice may be justified. The international relationships of the Jews in the period of the monarchy, together with the unsettled condition of the country (Ne 5:3) and people, needed such commercial strictness. Their trade was mostly in the hands of the Phoenicians and other foreigners, and the pressure of taxation for the payment of foreign tribute, etc., was heavy (Ne 5:4 f). Pr 11:15; 17:18 declare one "void of understanding" who thus goes security for another. Pr 20:16 seems to contain an exclamation of contemptuous rebuke for the man who goes security. Pr 22:26; 27:13 contain like admonitions.

See DEBT; PLEDGE; SECURITY; STRIKE.

James Josiah Reeve