Amplified Bible
Proverbs 18:24
24The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
- New International Version (NIV)One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Context of Proverbs 18:24
22He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the Lord. 23The poor man pleads, But the rich man answers roughly. The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:24 word by word
אִ֣ישׁ רֵ֭עִים לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק מֵאָֽח׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:24
- Proverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 27:9Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
- 1 Samuel 19:4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.
- 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, “Here is a blessing (gift) for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord:
- 2 Samuel 9:1And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- 2 Samuel 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
- 2 Samuel 17:27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
- 2 Samuel 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has returned to his own house in safety and peace.”
- 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.
- 1 Chronicles 12:38All these, being men of war arrayed in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect (committed) heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were also of one mind to make David king.
- Matthew 26:49Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal].
- 2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a good friend to me. Your love toward me was more wonderful Than the love of women.
- John 15:14You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24A man that hath friends must show himself friendly - Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly carriage, he cannot expect to retain his friends. Friendship is a good plant; but it requires cultivation to make it grow. There is a kind of factitious friendship in the world, that, to show one's self friendly in it, is very expensive, and in every way utterly unprofitable: it is maintained by expensive…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Better, “A man of many companions is so to his own destruction, but there is a friend (the true, loving friend) etc.” It is not the multitude of so called friends that helps us. They may only embarrass and perplex. What we prize is the one whose love is stronger and purer even than all ties of kindred.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24Verse 24 Christ Jesus never will forsake those who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are his friends if we do whatever he commands us, Joh 15:14.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24Some people who call themselves "friends" are not. Wise people look past appearances. They tell real friends from fake ones by their actions in tough times.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. A man ... friendly--better, "A man ... (is) to, or, may triumph (Psa 108:9), or, shout for joy (Psa 5:11), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [Mt 11:19; Lu 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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