King James Version
Proverbs 27:17
17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17 in other versions
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Context of Proverbs 27:17
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on 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 13:20But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
- Joshua 1:18Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
- Joshua 2:24And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
- 1 Samuel 11:9And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; 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: but 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 ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
- 2 Timothy 1:8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
- 2 Timothy 2:3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto 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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries