New American Standard Bible 2020
Proverbs 27:17
17As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens 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
15A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; 16He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. 18One who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And one who cares for his master will be honored. 19As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.
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 13:20So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe.
- Joshua 1:18Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
- Joshua 2:24And they said to Joshua, “The Lord has indeed handed over to us all the land; furthermore, all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of us.”
- 1 Samuel 11:9They said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced.
- 1 Samuel 23:16And Jonathan, Saul’s son, set out and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.
- 2 Samuel 10:11And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you.
- Job 4:3Behold, you have taught many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the exhausted, and make the feeble strong.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
- 2 Timothy 1:8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
- 2 Timothy 2:3Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 10:24and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,
- James 1:2Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were 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
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries