New English Translation
Proverbs 18:24
24A person who has friends may be harmed by them, 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A man of many companions may come 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.
Context of Proverbs 18:24
22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the Lord. 23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. A person who has friends may be harmed by them, 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 relative is born to help in adversity.
- Proverbs 27:9Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.
- 1 Samuel 19:4So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.
- 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah who were his friends, saying, “Here’s a gift for you from the looting of the Lord’s enemies!”
- 2 Samuel 9:1Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 2 Samuel 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
- 2 Samuel 17:27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
- 2 Samuel 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him have the whole thing! My lord the king has returned safely to his house!”
- 2 Samuel 21:7The king had mercy on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, in light of the Lord’s oath that had been taken between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 1 Chronicles 12:38All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.
- Matthew 26:49Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him.
- 2 Samuel 1:26I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than 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
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