A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
- NKJV A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- NASB A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- NLT There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many companions can lead to ruin, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother. Genuine, faithful friendship outweighs a crowd of acquaintances.
Overview
This proverb contrasts a multitude of shallow companions, which may bring a man to ruin, with the rare friend who sticks closer than a brother. It prizes faithful, committed friendship over numerous loose ties. Christians have long seen here a foreshadowing of Christ, the friend who lays down His life for His own (John 15:13-15) and remains closer and more faithful than any earthly bond.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- John 15:13–15Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- Prov 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- 2 Sam 1:26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
- 2 Sam 9:1–13Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 1 Sam 19:4–5Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
- 2 Sam 21:7Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 2 Sam 16:17“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
- Matt 26:49–50Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- 1 Chr 12:38–40All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.
- 2 Sam 17:27–29When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.
- 2 Sam 19:30–39And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”
- 1 Sam 30:26–31When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 18:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.