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Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron Iron tools are made sharp, and fit for use, by rubbing them against the file, or some other iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend Quickens his ingenuity, enlivens his affections, strengthens his judgment, excites him to virtuous and useful actions, and makes him, in all respects, a better man. The countenance is here put for the mind or spirit, the state and disposition of which are commonly visible in men's countenances.

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See also Proverbs 27:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Proverbs 27:17. _IRON SHARPENETH IRON_] As _hard iron_, viz., _steel_, will bring a knife to a better edge when it is properly _whetted_ _against_ it: so one friend may be the means of _excitin...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The proverb expresses the gain of mutual counsel as found in clear, well-defined thoughts. Two minds, thus acting on each other, become more acute. This is better than to see in “sharpening” the idea...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    V. INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO SOLOMON In the three Chapter s which follow 27-29 we find the change we have noticed before. These proverbs are addressed to a person and the phrases “My son” and the persona...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A collection of aphorisms on various subjects. PROVERBS 27:3. _cf._ Sir_22:14 f. The comparison suggests that vexation is out of place. It is the fool that is a bore, not his anger. Proverbs 27:4 a...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _sharpeneth_ This has been understood to mean _exasperates_. Comp. _Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me_, Job 16:9 (where, however, the Hebrew word is different). But, as it is _a friend_that is sp...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 27:10-18 10. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. IRON SHARPENETH IRON ( ); SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND - i:e., sharpeneth the mind of his friend, so th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SUNDRY OBSERVATIONS. AGRICULTURE 4. Envy] a husband's jealousy is meant (Song of Solomon 8:6). 5, 6. Men 'hide' (RV) love when they refrain from telling a friend his faults. An enemy will be 'profus...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The solitary grows dull. 'The best mirror is an old friend.' The Greek proverb is, 'One man, no man.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 27 V1 Do not become proud about your plans for tomorrow. You do not know what will happen tomorrow....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Friendship is good. Friends should encourage each other. They should help each other. And they should teach each other about God. In the Bible, Jonathan and David were special friends. See 1 Samuel 18...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND — _i.e.,_ the play of wit with wit sharpens and brightens up the face....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝ אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣ח

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 28 LIVING DAY BY DAY "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth."- Proverbs 27:1 "The grave and destruction are never satisfied; and the eyes of men ar...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “HEARTY COUNSEL” Proverbs 27:1-22 The keyword in this paragraph is _friends_, Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 27:9-10; Proverbs 27:14; Proverbs 27:17; Proverbs 19:1-29. Friends, according to the original se...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Verse Proverbs 27:5. This proverb takes for granted the need for rebuke, and by 'love that is hidden" is meant a love which fails to rebuke. Verse Proverbs 27:14. There is nothing more calculated to...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a (g) man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (g) One hasty man provokes another to anger....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Sharpeneth. Or instructeth. Fungar vice cotis. (Horace, Art.)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Take his garment tha...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _IDEAS GROW BY INTERCOURSE_ ‘Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.’ Proverbs 27:17 I. THE CHARACTER OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP.—It should be simple, manly, unreserved, no...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IRON SHARPENETH IRON,.... A sword or knife made of iron is sharpened by it; so butchers sharpen their knives; SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND; by conversation with him; thus learned...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Ver. 17. _Iron sharpeneth iron._] One edge tool sharpeneth another; so doth the face of a man his friend. _Ipse aspectus viri...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Iron sharpeneth iron, namely, when a file is used; SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND, namely, by the stimulation of his conversation and the encouragement of his example....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WISDOM AND HUMILITY GO HAND IN HAND...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HERE THE SUBJECT matter is completely changed. No longer is the outside opposition of the enemy found, but any dangers now considered are those arising from the state of our own hearts. This third sec...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Iron cutting tools are made bright, and sharp, and fit for use by rubbing them against the file, or some other iron. So a man, who being alone is sad, and dull, and unactive, by the company and conver...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 27:17 iron H1270 sharpens H2300 (H8799) iron H1270 man H376 sharpens H2300 (H8686) countenance H6440 fr

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Proverbs 27:17 I. The character of true friendship. It should be simple, manly, unreserved, not weak, or fond, or extravagant, nor yet exacting more than human nature can fairly give. It should be ea...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Proverbs 27:1. _Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth._ Let us never boast of future days and years, or what we mean to do when we come to any age, or what sh...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warnings and instructions. CHARACTERS: Solomon, his son. CONCLUSION: (Principal lesson.) Use the present time with diligence and wisdom and presume not upon tomorrow. We should speak of th...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 27:2. _Let another man praise thee._ A man is sometimes compelled to speak of himself. But modesty often prefers speaking in the third person; as St. John, who says, “that disciple whom Jesus...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend._ FRIENDSHIP Scripture instances of friendship are David and Jonathan; Ruth and Naomi; Paul and Timotheus; and our Lord and th...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 27:17. Stuart and Noyes find here the idea of provocation. But most critics take the ordinary view. Miller translates “_Iron is welded by iron; so, for a man, the tie is the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 27:1 These verses are grouped in pairs, each two being connected in subject. PROVERBS 27:1 BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TOMORROW. He boasts himself ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring foRuth (Proverbs 27:1). Very good. This is, of course, the idea is taken up in the New Testament book of James. He said, "Go t...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 4:12; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Samuel 11:10; 1 Samuel 11:9; 1 Samuel

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE Proverbs 27:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS God has given to each of us a life freighted with many privileges and with many opportunities. There is a little verse in the New Testament w...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Iron — Iron tools are made sharp and fit for use, by rubbing them against the file, or some other iron. The countenance — The company or conversation of his friend....

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