Proverbs 20:16 Commentary and Bible Study

The proverb is about the danger of making rash commitments. The meaning is a little obscure because of the compressed nature of the expression, and how much is contained in few words. It teaches the inadvisability of doing business with one who has entered into a rash arrangement. Here is a person who has rashly entered into a contract with a stranger and has therefore made himself responsible for them. Why has he done so? Perhaps he acted through lack of due diligence or because he has a desire to boast about his own generosity, but it will get him in deep trouble. His hastiness makes him a dangerous person to do business with. You had better secure yourself against the problems that are bound to arise, which you ought to have anticipated. Any dealings you have with him are bound to be to your loss because of his unreliability and treachery and general foolishness, and therefore you should secure yourself against that loss in advance by taking his garment, the garment being the last thing that was allowed to be used as security against a person (Exodus 22:26-27) and therefore something which you would only take in dire circumstances, which these are.The proverb illustrates the danger of the Christian doing any spiritual business with the worldling. He is already mortgaged to the devil. If you trust him in spiritual matters, in matter of the soul, you will find he cares nothing for your spiritual good, your eternal welfare. In truth, there is nothing that you can take from him to guard against this unreliability, but this is Solomon’s warning to us not to enter into dangerous alliances.