KJV ORIGINAL
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Take the coat from someone who promises to pay a stranger's debt, and demand security from anyone who guarantees payment for an unfamiliar woman.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse warns against the foolishness of guaranteeing debts for people you don't know well, as it puts your own security at risk.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, garments were often used as collateral for loans, and people would sometimes guarantee the debts of others. This practice of taking someone's outer garment as security was common but regulated by law to protect the poor. The warning specifically addresses the dangerous practice of backing loans for strangers or people of questionable character.
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