SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:25
¶ Lazo es al hombre el devorar lo santo, y andar pesquisando después de los votos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:25
Verse 25. Who devoureth that which is holy ] It is a sin to take that which belongs to God, his worship, or his work, and devote it to one's own use. And after vows to make inquiry. ] That is, if a man be inwardly making a rash vow, the fitness or unfitness, the necessity, expediency, and propriety of the thing should be first carefully considered. But how foolish to make the vow first, and afterwards to inquire whether it was right in the sight of God to do it! This equally condemns all rash and inconsiderate conduct. My old MS. Bible translates, "Falling is of men often to vowen to seyntis, and after, the vouw is agen brawen". Is it possible that Wiclif could have translated this verse thus? as it strongly countenances vows to and invocations of saints.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy , etc.] Which is separated to sacred uses, is devoted to the Lord, as firstfruits, tithes, offerings, etc. which if a man converts to his own use is sacrilege, and this is a sin and a snare, and brings ruin on him; (see Malachi 3:8,9); and after vows to make inquiry : that is a sin and a snare also; a man should first inquire before he vows, whether it is right for him to make a vow, and whether he is able to keep it; it is too late after the vow is made to inquire about the lawfulness or expedience of it, and how to find out ways and means to dissolve it and be clear of it; for it is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay, ( Ecclesiastes 5:4,5); when a thing is in a man’s own hands, he may do what he will; but when he has devoted it to another use, it is no longer in his power; as the case of Ananias and Sapphira shows, ( Acts 5:1-4).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 25 - The evasions men often use with their own consciences show how fals and deceitful man is.
Original Hebrew
מוקשׁ 4170 אדם 120 ילע 3216 קדשׁ 6944 ואחר 310 נדרים 5088 לבקר׃ 1239
