John Gill Commentary Proverbs 24:11

"Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back." — Proverbs 24:11 (ASV)

If you forbear to deliver [those who are] drawn unto death ,
Or "taken for or unto death" ^F8, in a violent way; who are taken by thieves and robbers, and used in a barbarous manner, as the man in the parable, whom the priest and Levite ignored, and who was helped by the good Samaritan; or who are unjustly sentenced and appointed to death by the civil magistrate; if any know their innocence, they should do all they can to save their lives, by testifying for them; for "a true witness delivers souls", (Proverbs 14:25); or by interceding for them, and giving counsel and advice concerning them, or by any lawful way they can; as Reuben delivered Joseph, Jonathan interceded for David, and Ahikam and Ebedmelech for Jeremiah. Life is valuable, and all means should be taken to save it, and to prevent the shedding of innocent blood; and a man should not forbear or spare any expense, or pains, or time, for this service:

Likewise, those who are drawn into snares and temptations, into immorality or heresy, which tend to ruin souls and bring them to eternal death; all proper methods should be taken to restore such persons, to recover them from the snare of the devil, which is saving souls from death, and covering a multitude of sins; see (2 Timothy 2:25 2 Timothy 2:26) (James 5:19James 5:20).

and [those who are] ready to be slain;
or ^F9 "bending towards slaughter"; are close to being executed, or put to death, upon a false accusation; for there is not the same concern pressed here about others who suffer righteously, or whose works and ways incline towards destruction and lead to it, of which they seem not very far off.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (twml Myxql) "captos ad mortem", Montanus. Piscator, Schultens.
• F9: (grhl myjm) "inclinantes ad necem", Mercerus; "nutantes ad occasionem", Montanus, Coeccius; "nutantes ad lanienam", Schultens.