Proverbs 27:9
in Proverbs 27Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.
KJV
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
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This verse in Proverbs 27
Commentary
4 notes on this verseOintment and perfume - Anointing the head and various parts of the body with aromatic oil is frequent in the East, and fumigating the beards of the guests at the conclusion of an entertainment is almost universal; as is also sprinkling rose-water, and water highly ordoriferous. Two of the curious vessels which are used for this purpose are now before me; they hold some quarts each, and are beautifully inlaid with silver in the form of sprigs, leaves, etc.
This site's exposition
The soul that is full loathes honey
on Proverbs 27:7-10
Verse 7 observes appetite: "The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet." Verse 10 gives the practical edge: "Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend," and "better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."
This site's exposition
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart
Clarke describes the Eastern custom of anointing guests with oil and perfume at the close of a meal. A friend's counsel brings the soul the same joy.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
your friend and your father’s friend The Holy One, blessed be He, Who is called a friend to Israel, and your father’s friend, for He endeared your forefathers.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שֶׁ֣מֶן | shemen | oil | H8081 → | 193 times |
| וּ֭קְטֹרֶת | uketoret | and perfume | H7004 → | |
| יְשַׂמַּֽח־ | yesamach- | it makes glad | H8055 → | 155 times |
| לֵ֑ב | lev | a heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
| וּמֶ֥תֶק | umetek | and [the] sweetness of | H4986 → | |
| רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ | reehu | friend his | H7453 → | 188 times |
| מֵֽעֲצַת־ | meatzat- | more than [the] counsel of | H6098 → | 89 times |
| נָֽפֶשׁ׃ | nafesh | a person | H5315 → | 754 times |
שֶׁ֣מֶןoil
shemenH8081 →193 times
וּ֭קְטֹרֶתand perfume
uketoretH7004 →
יְשַׂמַּֽח־it makes glad
yesamach-H8055 →155 times
לֵ֑בa heart
levH3820 →595 times
וּמֶ֥תֶקand [the] sweetness of
umetekH4986 →
רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּfriend his
reehuH7453 →188 times
מֵֽעֲצַת־more than [the] counsel of
meatzat-H6098 →89 times
נָֽפֶשׁ׃a person
nafeshH5315 →754 times
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
Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
it leads to
- Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
- Psalms 92:10
But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
- Psalms 45:7
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
- Psalms 16:5
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
- 1 John 2:20
You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
- Ephesians 3:20
Through
Proverbs 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
it leads to
- Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Proverbs 25:11–12
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Isaiah 50:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.