Bible Strands
Proverbs 27:13
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Proverbs addresses a student within a wisdom discourse, placing this warning immediately after a statement about the prudent recognizing danger and taking cover.
The words — The Hebrew verb עָרַב ('arav) means he stands surety for, and the noun חַבְלֵהוּ (chav.le.hu) denotes holding something in pledge as collateral.
The thread — This warning against guaranteeing debts for outsiders appears in Proverbs 6:1, Proverbs 20:16, and Proverbs 22:26.
Why it lands — The text explicitly commands seizing the guarantor's garment as collateral, establishing that assuming financial liability for strangers invites measurable loss rather than protection.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 20:16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
- Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,
- Proverbs 22:26 Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
- Exodus 22:26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,