Berean Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:19
19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
- New International Version (NIV)A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Context of Proverbs 18:19
17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. 18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents. An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle. 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:19 word by word
אָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים כִּבְרִ֥יחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:19
- Proverbs 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- Genesis 4:5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- Genesis 27:41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
- Genesis 32:6When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”
- Genesis 37:3Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors.
- 2 Samuel 13:22And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.
- 1 Kings 2:23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
- 2 Chronicles 13:17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.
- Acts 15:39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city - Almost all the versions agree in the following reading: "A brother assisted by a brother, is like a fortified city; and their decisions are like the bars of a city." Coverdale is both plain and terse: "The unitie of brethren is stronger then a castell, and they that holde together are like the barre of a palace." The fable of the dying father, his sons, and the bundle of faggots, illustrates this…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The meaning of the first clause is obtained in the King James Version by the insertion of the words in italics, and it seems on the whole to be the best. The Septuagint and Vulgate give an entirely different rendering, based, apparently, upon a different text.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19Verse 19 Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:19
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
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries