Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
- BSB Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- NKJV Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
- NASB Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.
- NLT The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
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
Just as fragrances delight the senses, heartfelt counsel from a friend gladdens the soul. It commends the sweetness of wise, sincere advice.
Overview
Comparing perfume and incense to a friend's earnest counsel, the proverb celebrates the joy of receiving genuine, loving guidance. Wisdom is meant to be shared in community, sharpening and refreshing one another. Such faithful counsel reflects the fellowship believers share in Christ, who calls His people friends and shares with them the words of the Father (John 15:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Prov 16:23–24The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
- Prov 16:21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
- Ps 23:5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- Ps 104:15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
- Prov 15:23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
- 2 Cor 2:15–16For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
- Song 4:10How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
- Song 3:6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
- John 12:3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
- Ps 45:7–8Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
- Ps 133:2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
- Judg 9:9But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
- Song 1:3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
- Prov 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
- Ezra 10:2–4And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
- Acts 28:15And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
- 1 Sam 23:16–17And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
- Exod 18:17–24And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
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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 27:9 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.