God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 27:17
17⌞As⌟ iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.
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
15Constantly dripping water on a rainy day is like a quarreling woman. 16Whoever can control her can control the wind. He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand. ⌞As⌟ iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another. 18Whoever takes care of a fig tree can eat its fruit, and whoever protects his master is honored. 19As a face is reflected in water, so a person is reflected by his heart.
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 13:20Everyone in Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen the blade of his plow, his mattock, ax, or sickle.
- Joshua 1:18Whoever rebels against your authority or does not obey your orders will be put to death. Just be strong and courageous!”
- Joshua 2:24They told Joshua, “The Lord has given us the whole country. The people who live there are deathly afraid of us.”
- 1 Samuel 11:9They told the messengers who had come, “This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be rescued.’ ” When the men of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed.
- 1 Samuel 23:16Saul’s son Jonathan came to David at Horesh. He strengthened David’s ⌞faith⌟ in the Lord.
- 2 Samuel 10:11Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my ⌞troops⌟, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your ⌞troops⌟, I’ll come to help you.
- Job 4:3Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that these troubles don’t disturb any of you. You know that we’re destined to suffer persecution.
- 2 Timothy 1:8So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord or be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the Good News.
- 2 Timothy 2:3Join me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 10:24We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things.
- James 1:2My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways.
- 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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