Proverbs 18:19
in Proverbs 18An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
KJV
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
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This verse in Proverbs 18
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The meaning of the first clause is obtained in the King James Version by the insertion of the words in italics, and it seems on the whole to be the best. The Septuagint and Vulgate give an entirely different rendering, based, apparently, upon a different text.
This site's exposition
He that is first in his own cause
on Proverbs 18:17-19
He that is first in his own cause seems just, until his neighbour comes and searches him out, the chapter's warning that one side of a story always sounds complete. Casting the lot is named a way disputes are settled and the mighty parted, a practice the bench reads as an appeal past human bias to providence itself. An offended brother is harder to win than a strong city, contentions between them like the barred gates of a castle, the strongest bond made the hardest breach once it is broken.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
John ChrysostomDISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 3:1.3 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Do you see the great strength which comes from concord? And do you see the great harm caused by contentiousness? A kingdom in revolt destroys itself. When two brothers are bound together and united into one, they are more unbreakable than any wall.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 18:19 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
"A brother helped by his brother is like a fortified and elevated city: and is as strong as a well fortified palace of kings." The disciples of Christ were of the same mind, like brothers, and were fortified like a royal palace surrounded by many walls as they helped each other. They were firm in their unity, and their mutual aid made them stronger and stronger.
Truly spiritual affection is a strong city not able to be overcome or besieged by the devil either by undermining or by scaling. For it does not give way to the siege machines of Satan because it is guarded by Christ, the Lord, by Christ who conquered the world and has prepared eternal blessings for you, by Christ, who said, "He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
The Medieval Church1 voice
A brother helped by a brother, etc. When both peoples, namely Jews and Gentiles, agree in fraternal charity in Christ, they now build a united city of the Catholic Church. And just as the bars fortify the gates of cities, so the doctrines of both …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city - Almost all the versions agree in the following reading: “A brother assisted by a brother, is like a fortified city; and their decisions are like the bars of a city.” Coverdale is both plain and terse: “The unitie of brethren is stronger then a castell, and they that holde together are like the barre of a palace.” The fable of the dying father, his sons, and the bundle of faggots, illustrates this proverb. Unity among brethren makes them invincible; small things grow great by concord. If we take the words according to the common version, we see them express what, alas! we know to be too generally true: that when brothers fall out, it is with extreme difficulty that they can be reconciled. And fraternal enmities are generally strong and inveterate.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָ֗ח | ʾach | a brother | H251 → | 630 times |
| נִפְשָׁ֥ע | nifsha' | transgressed | H6586 → | |
| מִקִּרְיַת־ | mikiryat- | [is] more than a town of | H7151 → | 29 times |
| עֹ֑ז | ʾoz | strength | H5797 → | 92 times |
| וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים | umedonim | and contentions | H4079 → | 10 times |
| כִּבְרִ֥יחַ | kivriach | [are] like [the] bar of | H1280 → | |
| אַרְמֽוֹן׃ | ʾarmon | a fortress | H759 → |
אָ֗חa brother
ʾachH251 →630 times
נִפְשָׁ֥עtransgressed
nifsha'H6586 →
מִקִּרְיַת־[is] more than a town of
mikiryat-H7151 →29 times
עֹ֑זstrength
ʾozH5797 →92 times
וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗יםand contentions
umedonimH4079 →10 times
כִּבְרִ֥יחַ[are] like [the] bar of
kivriachH1280 →
אַרְמֽוֹן׃a fortress
ʾarmonH759 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
- Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 19:11
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- James 1:19
Through
Proverbs 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
- Proverbs 6:14
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
- James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- Proverbs 19:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
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About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Cyril of Alexandria, LETTER 30:2; John Chrysostom, DISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 3:1.3; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 18:19; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).