EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Proverbs 27:17
17People learn from each other, as one iron tool can make another one sharp.
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 wife who is always arguing with you is as bad as rain that never stops falling. 16Can you catch the wind? Can you hold oil in your hand? No! And you cannot keep that woman quiet. People learn from each other, as one iron tool can make another one sharp. 18If you take care of a fig tree, it will give you fruit to eat. If you take care of your master, he will give you honour. 19A man can see his face in a mirror. But his thoughts show what he is really like.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:17 word by word
בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:17
- 1 Samuel 13:20So the Israelites had to ask the Philistines to mend their ploughs, axes, hoes and knives that they used on their farms.
- Joshua 1:18If anyone turns against you and he does not obey your commands, we will make sure that he dies. You must be very strong and brave.’
- Joshua 2:24They said to him, ‘We are sure that the Lord has given us the whole land. All the people there are very frightened of us.’
- 1 Samuel 11:9Saul said to the men who had brought the news from Jabesh, ‘Return to Jabesh. Tell the people, “We will come to rescue you tomorrow, before midday.” ’ So the men took the message to the people in Jabesh. The people were very happy.
- 1 Samuel 23:16Saul's son, Jonathan, went to visit David at Horesh. He told David to be brave, because God would keep him safe.
- 2 Samuel 10:11Joab said to Abishai, ‘If the Syrian soldiers are too strong for me, you must come to rescue me. But if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come to rescue you.
- Job 4:3Listen! You have taught many people. You have helped weak people to be strong.
- Isaiah 35:3If your hands feel weak, now be strong! If your knees are shaking, now be brave!
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3You are receiving many troubles. We did not want anyone among you to turn away from Christ because of that. You already know that we who are believers must receive troubles like that.
- 2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed of the message about our Lord that we tell people. And do not be ashamed of me because I am in a prison. I am a prisoner because I serve Christ. You must understand that you will have trouble because you tell people the good news about Jesus Christ. So be ready to have the same kind of trouble as I have. Let God make you strong when you have trouble.
- 2 Timothy 2:3Be patient through the troubles that we Christians have. Be brave and strong, like a good soldier for Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 10:24We should think about how we can help one another. We want everyone to show love to each other. We want everyone to do good things to help one another.
- James 1:2My Christian friends, remember to be happy, even when many kinds of trouble happen to you. Troubles can help you.
- 1 Peter 4:12My friends, I know that people are causing you to have bad trouble. It is like a fire that is burning you. Do not be surprised about that. These things are happening to you, to show whether you really trust God. Do not think that something strange is 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
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