There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks 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.
- BSB A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays 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.
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 someone lay down his life for his friends.
- Prov 27:9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
- 2 Sam 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
- 2 Sam 9:1–13David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- 1 Sam 19:4–5Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;
- 2 Sam 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
- 2 Sam 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
- Matt 26:49–50Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- 1 Chr 12:38–40All these were men of war, who could order the battle array, and came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
- 2 Sam 17:27–29When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
- 2 Sam 19:30–39Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
- 1 Sam 30:26–31When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you from the plunder of Yahweh’s enemies.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.