New King James Version
Proverbs 27:10
10Do 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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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 wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. 9Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. 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. 11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. 12A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.
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 19:24Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.
- 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
- 1 Kings 12:6Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
- 2 Chronicles 24:22Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!”
- Isaiah 41:8“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
- Jeremiah 2:5Thus says the Lord: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?
- Proverbs 19:7All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
- Job 6:21For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid.
- Obadiah 1:12“But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress.
- Proverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 18:24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Luke 10:30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
- Acts 23:12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries