Proverbs 6:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Treat the urgency of extracting yourself from surety like a life-threatening crisis.
The Context of Proverbs 6:4
The warning escalates: treat your entrapment with the seriousness of a life-threatening danger.
What Does Proverbs 6:4 Mean?
This urgent command mirrors the language of someone pursued by a deadly threat. Sleep should not come to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids—you must remain awake and vigilant until the danger is past. The metaphor suggests you should be as disturbed by surety as you would be by mortal peril.
The intensity of this instruction emphasizes that avoiding surety should be a paramount concern. Just as someone fleeing danger cannot rest, so you should give your full attention and sleeplessness to extricating yourself from such obligations. This is not a minor matter to be casually postponed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 6:4
What does Proverbs 6:4 mean?
Treat the urgency of extracting yourself from surety like a life-threatening crisis.
What is the context of Proverbs 6:4?
The warning escalates: treat your entrapment with the seriousness of a life-threatening danger.