As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Parallel translations
- WEB Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
- KJV Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
- NKJV As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
- NASB As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.
- NLT As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
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
People shape and strengthen one another through close, honest interaction. It commends the mutual benefit of wise, sharpening friendships.
Overview
The well-known image of iron sharpening iron portrays how meaningful relationships refine character, counsel, and conviction through friction and engagement. This presupposes humility to be sharpened and love to sharpen well. Such mutual edification flourishes in the body of Christ, where believers spur one another on toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 10:24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- Prov 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- Job 4:3–4Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
- 1 Sam 23:16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
- 2 Tim 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- 1 Pet 4:12–13Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- 2 Sam 10:11–12“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.
- Jas 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- 2 Tim 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 2 Tim 2:9–13for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- 1 Th 3:3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- 1 Sam 11:9–10So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
- Josh 1:18Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
- 1 Sam 13:20–21Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
- Josh 2:24“The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”
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 27:17 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.