Proverbs 6:5
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Original Language Analysis
מִיַּ֥ד
from the hand
H3027
מִיַּ֥ד
from the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 6
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
Historical Context
Gazelles and birds were commonly hunted in ancient Israel using nets, snares, and traps. These hunting metaphors would have been immediately understood as life-or-death situations requiring desperate, immediate action.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do you see parallels between financial entanglement and spiritual bondage?
- How does God's sovereignty interact with our responsibility to 'deliver ourselves' from danger?
- What practical steps can you take to avoid the 'snares' that threaten your freedom in Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
The escape metaphor intensifies: deliver yourself as a gazelle from the hunter and a bird from the fowler. Both images depict vulnerable prey escaping mortal danger through swift action. The Hebrew 'natsal' (deliver) implies a narrow rescue from certain destruction. This connects to Reformed theology's understanding of deliverance from sin—only through God's grace and our diligent response can we escape the snares that threaten us. The passage emphasizes both divine provision and human responsibility in seeking deliverance.