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Selected Verse: Proverbs 18:24 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Pr 18:24 |
Strong Concordance |
A man [0376] that hath friends [07453] must shew himself friendly [07489]: and there is [03426] a friend [0157] that sticketh closer [01695] than a brother [0251]. |
| |
King James |
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| 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" [Mat 11:19; Luk 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Better, "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. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| A man - Heb. A man of friends; who desires the friendship of others. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
A 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 parties. feasts, etc., where the table groans with dainties, and where the conversation is either jejune and insipid, or calumnious; backbiting, talebearing, and scandal, being the general topics of the different squads in company.
There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother - In many cases the genuine friend has shown more attachment, and rendered greater benefits, than the natural brother. Some apply this to God; others to Christ; but the text has no such meaning.
But critics and commentators are not agreed on the translation of this verse. The original is condensed and obscure. אוש רעים להתרועע ish reim lehithroea, or lehithroeang, as some would read, who translate: A man of friends may ring again; i.e., he may boast and mightily exult: but there is a friend, אהב oheb, a lover, that sticketh closer, דבק dabek, is glued or cemented, מאח meach, beyond, or more than, a brother. The former will continue during prosperity, but the latter continues closely united to his friend, even in the most disastrous circumstances.
Hence that maxim of Cicero, so often repeated, and so well known: -
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.
"In doubtful times the genuine friend is known."
A late commentator has translated the verse thus: -
The man that hath many friends is ready to be ruined:
But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Holden.
"A frende that delyteth in love, doth a man more frendship, and sticketh faster unto him, than a brother." Coverdale.
"A man that hath friends ought to show himself friendly for a friend is nearer than a brother." Barker's Bible, 1615.
"A man amyable to felowschip, more a freend schal ben thanne a brother." - Old MS. Bible. The two last verses in this chapter, and the two first of the next, are wanting in the Septuagint and Arabic.
These are the principal varieties; out of them the reader may choose. I have already given my opinion. |
34 The Son [5207] of man [444] is come [2064] eating [2068] and [2532] drinking [4095]; and [2532] ye say [3004], Behold [2400] a gluttonous [5314] man [444], and [2532] a winebibber [3630], a friend [5384] of publicans [5057] and [2532] sinners [268]!
19 The Son [5207] of man [444] came [2064] eating [2068] and [2532] drinking [4095], and [2532] they say [3004], Behold [2400] a man [444] gluttonous [5314], and [2532] a winebibber [3630], a friend [5384] of publicans [5057] and [2532] sinners [268]. But [2532] wisdom [4678] is justified [1344] of [575] her [846] children [5043].
11 But let all those that put their trust [02620] in thee rejoice [08055]: let them ever [05769] shout for joy [07442], because thou defendest [05526] them: let them also that love [0157] thy name [08034] be joyful [05970] in thee.
9 Moab [04124] is my washpot [07366] [05518]; over Edom [0123] will I cast out [07993] my shoe [05275]; over Philistia [06429] will I triumph [07321].