Proverbs 18:24
New International Version
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New Living Translation
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

English Standard Version
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Berean Standard Bible
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

King James Bible
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

New King James Version
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New American Standard Bible
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

NASB 1995
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

NASB 1977
A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Legacy Standard Bible
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Amplified Bible
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

Christian Standard Bible
One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

American Standard Version
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Contemporary English Version
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.

English Revised Version
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

Good News Translation
Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.

International Standard Version
A man with many friends can still be ruined, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.

Majority Standard Bible
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

NET Bible
A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New Heart English Bible
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

World English Bible
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, "" And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!

Young's Literal Translation
A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!

Smith's Literal Translation
A man of friends for making friendship: and there is love attaching more than a brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.

New American Bible
There are friends who bring ruin, but there are true friends more loyal than a brother.

New Revised Standard Version
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There are friends who are merely friends; and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
There are friends who are friends, and there is a friend that is closer than a brother.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly. 24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Cross References
John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. / You are My friends if you do what I command you. / No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Samuel 18:1-3
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. / And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. / Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. / This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. ...

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. / For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! / Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? ...

1 John 3:16-18
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. / If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. / Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...

2 Samuel 1:26
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Luke 10:29-37
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” / Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. / Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. / And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.

1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. / Show hospitality to one another without complaining. / As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

Genesis 44:30-34
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life, / sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. / Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

that hath

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

1 Samuel 19:4,5
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good: …

there

2 Samuel 1:26
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

John 15:14,15
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you…

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Adhering Closer Companions Destruction Friend Friendly Friends Hurt Keeps Lover Maketh Nearer Pretend Ruin Ruined Shew Show Sticks
Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














A man of many companions
The phrase "a man of many companions" suggests an individual who surrounds himself with numerous acquaintances. The Hebrew word for "companions" here is "רֵעִים" (re'im), which can imply superficial or casual relationships. In the ancient Near Eastern context, social networks were vital for survival and prosperity, yet this proverb warns against the illusion of security in numbers. The emphasis is on the quality rather than the quantity of relationships, reminding us that not all who surround us are true allies.

may come to ruin
The phrase "may come to ruin" is derived from the Hebrew word "יִתְרוֹעָע" (yitroa'), which conveys the idea of being broken or shattered. This suggests that relying on numerous shallow relationships can lead to personal downfall or disaster. Historically, this reflects the wisdom literature's focus on the consequences of one's choices and the importance of discernment in relationships. It serves as a cautionary note that not all who appear to be friends will stand by us in times of trouble.

but there is a friend
The contrast introduced by "but there is a friend" highlights the value of a true friend. The Hebrew word for "friend" here is "אֹהֵב" (ohev), which implies a deep, affectionate bond. This friend is not just an acquaintance but someone who genuinely cares and supports. In the biblical context, such friendships are rare and precious, often compared to the covenantal love seen in relationships like that of David and Jonathan.

who stays closer
The phrase "who stays closer" emphasizes loyalty and steadfastness. The Hebrew root "דָּבַק" (dabaq) means to cling or adhere firmly. This imagery suggests a friend who remains steadfast through adversity, akin to the unwavering commitment seen in familial bonds. In a historical sense, this reflects the cultural importance of loyalty and faithfulness, virtues highly esteemed in biblical times.

than a brother
The comparison "than a brother" elevates the status of this friend to that of family. In ancient Israel, family ties were paramount, often dictating social and economic interactions. By stating that a friend can be closer than a brother, the proverb underscores the profound impact of chosen relationships over those determined by birth. This highlights the biblical theme of spiritual kinship, where bonds formed in faith and love can surpass even blood relations.

(24) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.--Rather, a man of many friends will suffer loss, for he will impoverish himself by constant hospitality, and in trouble they will desert him (Psalm 41:9); but "there is a friend," one in a thousand, "that sticketh closer than a brother." (Comp. Proverbs 17:17.)

Verse 24. - A man that hath friends must show himself friendly. The Authorized Version is certainly not correct. The Hebrew is literally, a man of friends will come to destruction. The word הִתְרועֵעַ (hithroea) is the hithp, infinitive of רעע, "to break or destroy" (comp. Isaiah 24:19); and the maxim means that the man of many friends, who lays himself out to make friends of bad and good alike, does so to his own ruin. They will feed upon him, and exhaust his resources, but will not stand by him in the day of calamity, nay, rather will give a helping hand to his downfall. It is not the number of so called friends that is really useful and precious. But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 27:10).

Νόμιζ ἀδελφοὺς τοὺς ἀληθινοὺς φίλους.

"Thy true friends hold as very brethren." The Vulgate has, Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater, "A man amiable in intercourse will be more of a friend than even a brother."

. . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of many companions
רֵ֭עִים (rê·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

may come to ruin,
לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ (lə·hiṯ·rō·‘ê·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

but there is
וְיֵ֥שׁ (wə·yêš)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

a friend
אֹ֝הֵ֗ב (’ō·hêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

who stays closer
דָּבֵ֥ק (dā·ḇêq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1695: A clinging, cleaving

than a brother.
מֵאָֽח׃ (mê·’āḥ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may be (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 18:23
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