Proverbs 27:17

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 that the countenance expresses it; by mutual conversation and instruction; by the communion of saints. The countenance brightens up in meeting intelligent friends, who sharpen the intellect and warm the heart (Job 4:3). So Jarchi. Aben-Ezra refers it to anger: 'So a man (by his passion) sharpeneth the countenance (i:e., the anger) of another' (cf. ). I prefer the English version. 'The very sight of a good man delights' (Seneca). ...

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 _exciting_ another to _reflect_, dive deeply into, and illustrate a subject, without which _whetting_ or _excitement_, this had never taken place. Had _Horace_ seen this proverb in the _Septuagint_ translation when he wrote to the _Pisos_? Ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quae ferrum valet, exors ipsa secandi. HOR. ARS. POET., ver. 304. "But let me sharpen others, as the hone Gives edg

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 of provoking, and the point of the maxim in the fact that the quarrels of those who have been friends are bitter in proportion to their previous intimacy....

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 (Proverbs 25:14) of tomorrow who counts upon it presumptuously, settles that he will do this or that, as if his life was in his own power, and he could make sure of time. This is blindness and arrogance. FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH. Our Lord gave a lesson on this matter in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:1.); and an analogous warning, based on our ver

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 men sharpen one another's minds, and excite each other to learned studies; Christians sharpen one another's graces, or stir up each other to the exercise of them, and the gifts which are bestowed on them, and to love and to good works. So Jarchi and Gersom understand it of the sharpening of men's minds to the learning of doctrine; but Aben Ezra, takes it in an ill sense, that as iron strikes iron and sharpens it, so a wrathful man irritates and provokes wrath in another. Some render the words, "as iron delighteth in iron, so a man rejoiceth the countenance of his friend", i: by his company and conversation. i יחד "laetatur", a חדה "laetari; ferrum in ferro laetatur, et virum laetificant or...

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 shall be our position when we grow gray. Let us never boast of anything in the future, for we cannot tell what even a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:2. _Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips._ For he who praises himself writes himself down a fool in capital letters. Proverbs 27:3. _A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both._ One might endure almost any sort of

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 personal address, “thou,” “thy” and “thyself,” are again used in these Chapter s. Like the previous sections, so here we find instructions which were given to Solomon. CHAPTER 27 INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS The opening proverb warns against procrastination. No one can be sure of what the next day may bring forth.True wisdom is not to trust the future day, for it may never come, nor are we to dwell in the past. While it is today we must live and act and leave nothing undone which can be done today. How true this is of salvation which is offered for today--now is the day of salvation. How many have been lost forever by procrastination, by thinking a more convenient time would come. Well has one said,...

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 Lit. ruthlessness of wrath, torrent of anger, or wrath is ruthlessness, anger a torrent. Proverbs 27:6. profuse: a doubtful translation of an obscure Heb. word, although Matthew 26:49 (viz. the force of κατὰ? in κατεφίλησεν) is quoted in support. AV deceitful depends upon an emendation following the Lat. Pr

_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 spoken of here, it is better to take the proverb in a good sense. See for illustrations, 1 Kings 10:1; 1 Kings 10:3; Acts 28:15. The effect, however, is mutual, not like that of the whetstone to which Horace compares the critic, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi. _De Art. Poet_. 304, 5....

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 off. 11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12. A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it. 13. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman. 14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him. 15. A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike: 16. He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right han