English Standard Version
Proverbs 18:24
24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Context of Proverbs 18:24
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. 23The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who 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, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
- 1 Samuel 19:4And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.
- 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present 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 of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
- 2 Samuel 16:17And Absalom 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 19:30And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home."
- 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
- 1 Chronicles 12:38All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.
- Matthew 26:49And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.
- 2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
- John 15:14You are my friends if you do 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries