SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Surety [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. Certainty; indubitableness.

2. Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs-- Genesis 15:13 .

3. Security; safety.

4. Yet for the more surety they looked round about.

5. Foundation of stability; support.

6. We our state

7. Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;

8. On other surety none.

9. Evidence; ratification; confirmation.

10. She call'd the saints to surety

11. That she would never put it from her finger,

12. Unless she gave it to yourself.

13. Security against loss or damage; security for payment.

14. There remains unpaid

15. A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which

16. One part of Aquitain is bound to us.

17. In law, one that is bound with and for another; one who enters into a bond or recognizance to answer for another's appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt or for the performance of some act, and who, in case of the principal debtor's failure, is compellable to pay the debt or damages; a bondsman; a bail.

18. He that is surety for a stranger, shall smart for it. Proverbs 11:15 .

19. Thy servant became surety for the lad to my father. Genesis 44:32 .

20. In Scripture, Christ is called 'the surety of a better testament.' Hebrews 7:22 . He undertook to make atonement for the sins of men, and thus prepare the way to deliver them from the punishment to which they had rendered themselves liable.

21. A hostage.

Surety [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. The state of being sure; certainty; security.

2. That which makes sure; that which confirms; ground of confidence or security.

3. Security against loss or damage; security for payment, or for the performance of some act.

4. One who is bound with and for another who is primarily liable, and who is called the principal; one who engages to answer for another's appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt, or for performance of some act; a bondsman; a bail.

5. Hence, a substitute; a hostage.

6. Evidence; confirmation; warrant.

Surety [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To act as surety for.

Surety Encyclopedia Britannica

SURETY, in law, is the party liable under a contract of Guarantee (q.v.). In criminal practice sureties bound by Recognizance (q.v.) are a means of obtaining compliance with the order of a court of justice, whether to keep the peace or otherwise.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 22, p. 667
[44 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Surety Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

in common speech, is one who gives security for another; and hence it has become prevalent among theological writers to confound it with the terms substitute and representative, when applied to Christ. In fact, the word “surety” occurs only once in our translation of the Scriptures, namely, Heb. vii, 22: “By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better covenant.” It is certainly true that the Son of God, in all that he has done or is still doing as Mediator, may be justly viewed as the surety of the new and everlasting covenant, and as affording the utmost security to believers that, as the Father hath given all things into his hands, they will be conducted with effect, and all the exceeding great and precious promises of that covenant assuredly be accomplished. But this does not appear to be the precise idea which the Apostle has in view in the above passage. This has been sufficiently evinced by many critics and commentators, particularly by Pierce, Macknight, and M’Lean, in their notes on the place. The substance of their remarks is, that the original term employed by the Apostle, and which occurs no where else in Scripture, is ἔγγυος, which is derived from ἐγγὺς, _near_, and signifies _one who draws near_, or who brings others near; which sense of the word will not very well accord with that of a substitute or representative. The Greek commentators very properly explain the word by μεσίτης, _a mediator_. Now, as in this passage a comparison is stated between Jesus, as a high priest, and the Levitical high priests; and as the latter were considered by the Apostle to be the mediators of the Sinai covenant, because through their mediation the Israelites worshipped God with sacrifices; it is evident that the Apostle in this passage terms ...

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
[407 words — estimated reading time: 3 minutes]

Suretyship [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The state of being surety; the obligation of a person to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another.

Certainty Roget’s Thesaurus §474

N. certainty, necessity, certitude, surety, assurance, dead certainty, moral certainty, infallibleness, infallibility, reliability, indubitableness, inevitableness, unquestionableness, gospel, scripture, church, pope, court of final appeal, res judicata, ultimatum positiveness, dogmatism, dogmatist, dogmatizer, doctrinaire, bigot, opinionist, sir oracle, ipse dixit, fact, positive fact, matter of fact, fait accompli

V. be certain, stand to reason, render certain, insure, ensure, assure, clinch, make sure, determine, decide, set at rest, "make assurance double sure", know, dogmatize, lay down the law

Adj. certain, sure, assured, solid, well-founded, unqualified, absolute, positive, determinate, definite, clear, unequivocal, categorical, unmistakable, decisive, decided, ascertained, inevitable, unavoidable, avoidless, ineluctable, unerring, infallible, unchangeable, to be depended on, trustworthy, reliable, bound, unimpeachable, undeniable, unquestionable, indisputable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indubitable, irrefutable, conclusive, without power of appeal, indubious, without doubt, beyond a doubt, without a shade or shadow of doubt, without question, beyond question, past dispute, clear as day, beyond all question, beyond all dispute, undoubted, uncontested, unquestioned, undisputed, questionless, doubtless, authoritative, authentic, official, sure as fate, sure as death and taxes, sure as a gun, evident, self-evident, axiomatic, clear, clear as day, clear as the sun at noonday

Adv. certainly, for certain, certes, sure, no doubt, doubtless, and no mistake, flagrante delicto, sure enough, to be sure, of course, as a matter of course, a coup sur, to a certainty, in truth, at any rate, at all events, without fail, coute que coute, coute qu'il coute, whatever may happen, if the worst come to the worst, come what may, happen what may, come what will, sink or swim, rain or shine

Phr. cela va sans dire, there is -no question, - not a shadow of doubt, the die is cast, "facts are stubborn things"

Safety Roget’s Thesaurus §664

N. safety, security, surety, impregnability, invulnerability, invulnerableness, danger past, danger over, storm blown over, coast clear, escape, means of escape, blow valve, safety valve, release valve, sniffing valve, safeguard, palladium, guardianship, wardship, wardenship, tutelage, custody, safekeeping, preservation, protection, auspices, safe-conduct, escort, convoy, guard, shield, guardian angel, tutelary god, tutelary deity, tutelary saint, genius loci, protector, guardian, warden, warder, preserver, custodian, duenna, chaperon, third person, watchdog, bandog, cerberus, watchman, patrolman, policeman, cop, dick, fuzz, smokey, peeler|, zarp|, sentinel, sentry, scout, garrison, guardship, refuge &c. anchor, precaution, quarantine, cordon sanitaire, confidence

V. be safe, keep one's head above water, tide over, save one's bacon, ride out the storm, weather the storm, light upon one's feet, land on one's feet, bear a charmed life, escape, make safe, render safe, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter

Adj. safe, secure, sure, in safety, in security, on the safe side, under the shield of, under the shade of, under the wing of, under the shadow of one's wing, under cover, under lock and key, out of danger, out of the woods, out of the meshes, out of harm's way, unharmed, unscathed, on sure ground, at anchor, high and dry, above water, unthreatened, unmolested, protected, cavendo tutus, panoplied, snug, seaworthy, weatherproof, waterproof, fireproof, defensible, tenable, proof against, invulnerable, unassailable, unattackable, impenetrable, impregnable, imperdible|, inexpugnable, achillean, safe and sound, scathless, unhazarded, not dangerous, unthreatening, harmless, friendly (cooperative) 709, protecting, protective, guardian, tutelary, preservative, trustworthy, adv, ex abundanti cautela, with impunity, phr, all's well, salva res est, suave mari magno, a couvert, e terra alterius spectare laborem, dieu vous garde

Security Roget’s Thesaurus §771

N. security, guaranty, guarantee, gage, warranty, # bond, tie, pledge, plight, mortgage, collateral, debenture, hypothecation, bill of sale, lien, pawn, pignoration, real security, vadium, stake, deposit, earnest, handsel, caution, promissory note, bill, bill of exchange, i, o, u, personal security, covenant, specialty, parole, acceptance, indorsement, signature, execution, stamp, seal, sponsor, cosponsor, sponsion, sponsorship, surety, bail, mainpernor, hostage, godchild, godfather, godmother, recognizance, deed of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, authentication, verification, warrant, certificate, voucher, docket, doquet, record, probate, attested copy, receipt, acquittance, quittance, discharge, release, muniment, title deed, instrument, deed, deed poll, assurance, indenture, charter, charter poll, paper, parchment, settlement, will, testament, last will and testament, codicil

V. give security, give bail, give substantial bail, go bail, pawn, impawn, spout, mortgage, hypothecate, impignorate, guarantee, warrant, warrantee, assure, accept, indorse, underwrite, insure, cosign, countersign, sponsor, cosponsor, execute, stamp, sign, seal, let, sett, grant a lease, take a lease, hold a lease, hold in pledge, lend on security

Phr. bonis avibus, "gone where the woodbine twineth"

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

19 KJV and 0 BSB verses contain “surety”

Genesis 15:13

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

Genesis 18:13

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

Genesis 26:9

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

Genesis 43:9

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

Genesis 44:32

For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

Job 17:3

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

Psalms 119:122

Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.

Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

Proverbs 6:1

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

Proverbs 11:15

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

Proverbs 17:18

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

Proverbs 20:16

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

Proverbs 27:13

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

Acts 12:11

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

Hebrews 7:22

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Sirach 8:13

Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it.

Sirach 29:14

An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.

Sirach 29:15

Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.

Sirach 29:16

A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:

2 Maccabees 4:33

Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.