Proverbs 18:19

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

17He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is [harder to be won] than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace. 20A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 18:19 word by word

אָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים כִּבְרִ֥יחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear

• brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• contentionsמָדוֹןmâdôn · strifeH4066
• barsבְּרִיחַberîyach · barH1280

Cross-references for Proverbs 18:19

• Proverbs 6:19a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discords among brethren.
• Genesis 4:5and upon Cain, and on his offering, he did not look. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
• Genesis 27:41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand, and I will slay my brother Jacob.
• Genesis 32:6And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother, to Esau; and he also is coming to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
• Genesis 37:3And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was son of his old age; and he made him a vest of many colours.
• 2 Samuel 13:22And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had humbled his sister Tamar.
• 1 Kings 2:23And king Solomon swore by Jehovah saying, God do so to me, and more also, — Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life!
• 1 Kings 12:16And all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them; and the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? And [we have] no inheritance in the son of Jesse: To your tents, O Israel! Now see to thine own house, David! And Israel went to their tents.
• 2 Chronicles 13:17And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; and there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
• Acts 15:39There arose therefore very warm feeling, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away to Cyprus;
• Proverbs 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 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

• Castle
• Family
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Brother
• Contention
• Innermost
• Offend
• Slothful
• Snare
• Stick
• Waster
• Bar (2)
• Proverb

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