I had this verse memorized in NIV for a very long time.
As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
The guy who helped me become a Christian emphasized that it’s the friction between people that sharpens each other. That never sat well with me.
Then recently I came across Proverbs 17:17:
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
So having the friction idea in mind I naturally think this means that there will inevitably be adversity between brothers that will help them grow. Again this bothers me. So I looked into it.
NRSV says:
A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 NRSV
and TNIV:
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 TNIV
These express what most commentators would say the Scripture means. Matthew Henry says, “A brother is born to succour a brother or sister in distress, to whom he is joined so closely by nature that he may the more sensibly feel from their burdens, and be the more strongly inclined and engaged, as it were by instinct, to help them.” John Gill says, “and a brother is born for adversity; for a time of adversity, as Jarchi: he is born into the world for this purpose; to sympathize with his brother in distress, to relieve him, comfort and support him;” Adam Clarke says, “A friend loveth at all times – Equally in adversity as in prosperity. And a brother, according to the ties and interests of consanguinity, is born to support and comfort a brother in distress.”
Back to Proverbs 27:17, NRSV says:
Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.
Proverbs 27:17 NRSV
The emphasis should be on the sharpening not on the friction. Henry says, “Wise and profitable discourse sharpens men’s wits;”
This isn’t to say that there won’t be friction or adversity between brothers and sisters (in the Lord) and that God wouldn’t use it for our good, but that’s most likely not the primary intent of these verses.
I have mixed feelings about the ‘poetic books’ as they are often called, but say we were to take their contents as doctrinal truth, rather than simply something to ponder…
What I get out of these scriptures is as follows:
As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Expect conflict – as it is enevitable – but use it to become sharper and wiser, rather than injured and hurt.
[ I wouldn't be pleased about somebody using this verse to justify continual and needless argument for the sake of grinding on othersm or revealing their flaws - as I think that's a terrible translation. ]
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
I can’t say categorically for what God meant this, but it speaks to me about the different ways we react to trouble in somebody’s life, depending on our relationship to them, or our role to them. Friends want to validate, justify and smooth things over, to help with coping; but family feels more responsible for good decisions best outcomes.
Friends may come and go when the times change, but family are family through thick and thin, and as they say, ‘blood is thicker than water.’
What do you think?
I forgot to mention that both are positive reactions, and we all need friends ‘and’ family; and I suppose this scripture helps us to identify this and be validated by it.
I’m no great exegete of wisdom lit. either but these sound viable to me, especially since there isn’t a wide consensus on the meaning. Thanks
Jeff
Hi Scripture Zealot,
I ran across your blog while doing a google search for an iPhone app I recently wrote to help me (and anyone else who wants to download it) memorize proverbs. Since I had to enter a bunch of proverbs into the app, I ended up reading the whole book of Proverbs and was a little surprised to find that many of the proverbs were focused on loving and helping others, especially the poor. I think all of the proverbs should be read with that context in mind.
I also think Matthew Henry is a great source when trying to figure out what a scripture means.
Later,
Billy
Wow, that’s a big task. I have quite a few, plus some longer ones near the beginning. I can imagine how much that will benefit you.
Jeff