Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 18:24
24A man with many 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
22Whoever finds a wife finds good, and receives favor from Adonai. 23The poor request favor, but the rich answer harshly. A man with many 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 brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 27:9As ointment and perfume gladden the heart, so the sweetness of one’s friend comes from his sincere counsel.
- 1 Samuel 19:4So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial for you;
- 1 Samuel 30:26When David arrived at Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Look, a blessing for you from the spoil of the enemies of Adonai,”
- 2 Samuel 9:1Then David inquired, “Is there anyone still left from the house of Saul, so that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- 2 Samuel 16:17But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
- 2 Samuel 17:27Now when David reached Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-debar and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim
- 2 Samuel 19:30Then the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have decreed, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’”
- 2 Samuel 21:7Now the king spared Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan son of Saul, because of Adonai’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 1 Chronicles 12:38and from beyond the Jordan, from the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 120,000 armed with every type of weapons of war.
- Matthew 26:49And immediately Judah drew near to Yeshua and said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- 2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan! Very pleasing were you to me. Wonderful was your love to me more 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries