Proverbs 20:16Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. A merchant's shop where someone offers their cloak as collateral for a stranger's debt - the most valuable item a poor person owned...
The emotion here: urgently protective, having seen too many people ruined by misplaced financial trust
The original word
'arab (עָרַב) — to give a pledge, become surety; literally 'to mix' or 'exchange'
Why it matters
A person's outer garment was so essential that Mosaic law required it be returned each night if taken as collateral
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 20:16
The 'wayward woman' phrase suggests this involves someone of questionable character, making the risk even greater
Common misconceptionPeople think this is harsh and unloving, but it's actually protecting both parties - the guarantor from financial ruin and the borrower from false enablement.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 20:16
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 20:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 20:16 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include caution, financial wisdom. Notable phrases: take the garment; puts up collateral. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 20:16 mean to you, today?
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