English Standard Version
Proverbs 27:10
10Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
Proverbs 27:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
Context of Proverbs 27:10
8Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. 9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. 11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. 12The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:10 word by word
רֵֽעֲךָ֨ וְרֵ֪עַ אָבִ֡יךָ אַֽל־תַּעֲזֹ֗ב וּבֵ֥ית אָחִ֗יךָ אַל־תָּ֭בוֹא בְּי֣וֹם אֵידֶ֑ךָ ט֥וֹב שָׁכֵ֥ן קָ֝ר֗וֹב מֵאָ֥ח רָחֽוֹק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thine own friendרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- and thy father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- forsakeעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- not; neither goבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into thy brother’sאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of thy calamityאֵיד'êyd · calamityH343
- betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- a neighbourשָׁכֵןshâkên · neighborH7934
- nearקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- far offרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:10
- 2 Samuel 19:24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety.
- 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 Kings 12:6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
- 2 Chronicles 24:22Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, "May the Lord see and avenge!"
- Isaiah 41:8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
- Jeremiah 2:5Thus says the Lord: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
- Proverbs 19:7All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
- Job 6:21For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.
- Obadiah 1:12But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.
- Proverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 18:24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Luke 10:30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
- Acts 23:12When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Thine own friend - A well and long tried friend is invaluable. Him that has been a friend to thy family never forget, and never neglect. And, in the time of adversity, rather apply to such a one, than go to thy nearest relative, who keeps himself at a distance.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10“Better is a neighbor” who is really “near” in heart and spirit, than a brother who though closer by blood, is “far off” in feeling.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-10Verses 9-10 Depend not for relief upon a kinsman, merely for kindred's sake; apply to those who are at hand, and will help in need. But there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and let us place entire confidence in him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10During a crisis, you might need help right away. It is important to have friends nearby and neighbors who can assist.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Adhere to tried friends. The ties of blood may be less reliable than those of genuine friendship.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:10
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries