Brother and Friend
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.
One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.
One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
-Proverbs 17:17, 17:18, and 18:24
Notes from Derek Kidner (IVP, 1964):
- In trouble you see what family ties are for, and you also see who are your friends.
- But a friend may be unfairly imposed upon.
- The second saying does not contradict the first, but deprecates, not help for a friend in need, but a blind guarantee which may lead the recipient to rashness, and both to ruin.
- (18:24) The RV gives the most probable sense of the Hebrew text: "He that maketh many friends (doeth it) to his own destruction." But the Heb. is very cryptic (and it could be read as:) 'There are friends to (one's) undoing.' King Zedekiah was warned of this (Jer. 38:22), but in vain.
More notes:
- Sometimes adversity is the only thing that brings brothers together (WG Plaut).
- Brothers show loyalty during times of calamity and a true friend is the same as a brotherly relation—in times of greatest need the loyal love is displayed (NET notes).
- It is better to have one or two good friends than many false friends. Some friends can be more faithful than our closest blood relatives. Such a friend is a true treasure (Constable's notes).
- The significance of friends is found in their quality, not quantity (Waltke).
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