Parallel Bible VersionsNASB/KJV Study BibleHebrew Bible Study Tools

Proverbs 27:17

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Yron sharpeneth yron, so doeth man sharpen the face of his friend.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— Iron sharpens iron; so a man enlightens the face of his friend.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Iron 1270
{1270} Prime
בַּרְזֶל
barzel
{bar-zel'}
Perhaps from the root of H1269; iron (as cutting); by extension an iron implement.
sharpeneth 2300
{2300} Prime
חָדַד
chadad
{khaw-dad'}
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) sharp or (figuratively) severe.
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
iron; 1270
{1270} Prime
בַּרְזֶל
barzel
{bar-zel'}
Perhaps from the root of H1269; iron (as cutting); by extension an iron implement.
so a man 376
{0376} Prime
אִישׁ
'iysh
{eesh}
Contracted for H0582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation.).
sharpeneth 2300
{2300} Prime
חָדַד
chadad
{khaw-dad'}
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) sharp or (figuratively) severe.
z8686
<8686> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 4046
the countenance 6440
{6440} Prime
פָּנִים
paniym
{paw-neem'}
Plural (but always used as a singular) of an unused noun (פָּנֶה paneh, {paw-neh'}; from H6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.).
of his friend. 7453
{7453} Prime
רֵעַ
rea`
{ray'-ah}
From H7462; an associate (more or less close).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Proverbs 27:17

_ _ a man sharpeneth ... friend — that is, conversation promotes intelligence, which the face exhibits.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Proverbs 27:17

_ _ This intimates both the pleasure and the advantage of conversation. One man is nobody; nor will poring upon a book in a corner accomplish a man as the reading and studying of men will. Wise and profitable discourse sharpens men's wits; and those that have ever so much knowledge may by conference have something added to them. It sharpens men's looks, and, by cheering the spirits, puts a briskness and liveliness into the countenance, and gives a man such an air as shows he is pleased himself and makes him pleasing to those about him. Good men's graces are sharpened by converse with those that are good, and bad men's lusts and passions are sharpened by converse with those that are bad, as iron is sharpened by its like, especially by the file. Men are filed, made smooth, and bright, and fit for business (who were rough, and dull, and inactive), by conversation. This is designed, 1. To recommend to us this expedient for sharpening ourselves, but with a caution to take heed whom we choose to converse with, because the influence upon us is so great either for the better or for the worse. 2. To direct us what we must have in our eye in conversation, namely to improve both others and ourselves, not to pass away time or banter one another, but to provoke one another to love and to good works and so to make one another wiser and better.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Proverbs 27:17

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.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a (g) man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

(g) One hasty man provokes another to anger.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Iron:

1 Samuel 13:20-21 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. ... Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

so:

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so [doth] the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Joshua 1:18 Whosoever [he be] that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 2:24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
1 Samuel 11:9-10 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. ... Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
1 Samuel 23:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
2 Samuel 10:11-12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. ... Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
Job 4:3-4 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. ... Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. ... Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you.
1 Thessalonians 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:9-13 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. ... If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ... But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Random Bible VersesNew Quotes



Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Jsh 1:18; 2:24. 1S 11:9; 13:20; 23:16. 2S 10:11. Jb 4:3. Pv 27:9. Is 35:3. 1Th 3:3. 2Ti 1:8, 12; 2:3, 9. He 10:24. Jm 1:2. 1P 4:12.

Newest Chat Bible Comment
Comment HereExpand User Bible CommentaryComplete Biblical ResearchComplete Chat Bible Commentary
Recent Chat Bible Comments