Proverbs 27:17
WEB
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
BSB
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
KJV
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H1270
n-m — iron, iron implement
Derivation: perhaps from the root of 1269;
iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement
KJV: (ax) head, iron.
n.m — iron
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
1. iron, lit.
2. tool of iron
3. iron in fig. of unwatered earth
H2300
v — be, make, sharp, severe
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causatively, make) sharp or (figuratively) severe
KJV: be fierce, sharpen.
vb — be sharp
[חָדַד] vb. be sharp, keen
Qal are keener than evening wolves
Hiph. the smith sharpeneth an axe.
Hoph. be sharpened
vb — be sharp
[חָדַה] vb. be or grow sharp
Qal grow sharp
Hiph. sharpen (fig.)
H376
n-m — man
Derivation: contracted for 582 (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)
KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
n.m — man
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
H6440
n-m — face, before
Derivation: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from 6437);
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.)
KJV: accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.
n.m — face
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
I.
1. face, faces
2.
a. presence, person
b. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
3. face of seraphim
4. face of animals
5. face (= surface) of ground
6. as adv.loc. before
7. for other phrases
II. with prepositions
H7453
n-m — associate
Derivation: or רֵיעַ; from 7462;
an associate (more or less close)
KJV: brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, × (an-) other.
n.m — friend
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
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Verse 17
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.