SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:17
¶ Hierro con hierro se aguza; y el hombre le da ánimo a su amigo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:17
Verse 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 edge to razors, though itself have none." FRANCIS.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Iron sharpeneth iron , etc.] 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”, f756 : by his company and conversation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17 - We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better.
Original Hebrew
ברזל 1270 בברזל 1270 יחד 2300 ואישׁ 376 יחד 2300 פני 6440 רעהו׃ 7453
