PDF  MSWord
Do not tell your neighbors, “Go, and come back,
and tomorrow I will give it,” when it is with you. Bible see other translations

“with you.” The words “with you” have a spatial connotation that is important to pick up on. Although some versions say something like “when you have it,” that does not necessarily imply the person actually has it with them. I may be able to pay a bill because I “have the money” but I likely don’t have it with me. Especially in an agrarian society in which bartering played a major role and payments were made by weight of silver or handing over of goods (Proverbs was written before coins were used) the fact that a person had the payment with them was a very important detail. If you owed a person a sheep, and you had it with you but would not hand it over, there is some major problem that is not being revealed.


Commentary for: Proverbs 3:28

 
;