Darby Bible
Proverbs 27:17
17Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
- New International Version (NIV)As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Context of Proverbs 27:17
15A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike: 16whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil. Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured. 19As [in] water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:17 word by word
בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:17
- 1 Samuel 13:20And all Israel went down to the Philistines, every man to get his ploughshare, and his hoe, and his axe, and his sickle sharpened,
- Joshua 1:18Every one that is rebellious against thy commandment and hearkeneth not to thy words in everything that thou commandest us, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.
- Joshua 2:24And they said to Joshua, Of a surety Jehovah has given the whole land into our hands, and even all the inhabitants of the land faint because of us.
- 1 Samuel 11:9And they said to the messengers that had come, Thus shall ye say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead: To-morrow ye shall have deliverance when the sun is hot. And the messengers came and informed the men of Jabesh-Gilead; and they were glad.
- 1 Samuel 23:16And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
- 2 Samuel 10:11And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
- Job 4:3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the weak hands and confirm the tottering knees.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3that no one might be moved by these afflictions. (For yourselves know that we are set for this;
- 2 Timothy 1:8Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but suffer evil along with the glad tidings, according to the power of God;
- 2 Timothy 2:3Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 10:24and let us consider one another for provoking to love and good works;
- James 1:2Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations,
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, take not [as] strange the fire [of persecution] which has taken place amongst you for [your] trial, as if a strange thing was happening to you;
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Iron sharpeneth iron - As hard iron, viz., steel, will bring a knife to a better edge when it is properly whetted against it: so one friend may be the means of exciting another to reflect, dive deeply into, and illustrate a subject, without which whetting or excitement, this had never taken place. Had Horace seen this proverb in the Septuagint translation when he wrote to the Pisos? Ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quae ferrum valet, exors ipsa…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The proverb expresses the gain of mutual counsel as found in clear, well-defined thoughts. Two minds, thus acting on each other, become more acute. This is better than to see in “sharpening” the idea of provoking, and the point of the maxim in the fact that the quarrels of those who have been friends are bitter in proportion to their previous intimacy.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17Verse 17 We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17iron sharpens iron: Wisdom comes from interacting, often critically, with a good friend (see Proverbs 27:6, 9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. a man sharpeneth ... friend--that is, conversation promotes intelligence, which the face exhibits.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries