Bible Strands
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom writer addresses a general audience in a collection of instructional sayings, immediately following a contrast between the harshness of the rich and the pleas of the poor.
The words — The text uses לְ/הִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ (le./hit.ro.'E.a) to describe a man of many companions coming to ruin, and דָּבֵ֥ק (da.Vek) to describe a loyal friend who cleaves to another.
The thread — This theme of steadfast friendship appears in Proverbs 17:17, which notes a friend loves at all times, and Proverbs 27:9, which links a friend's counsel to sweetness of soul. The standard of sacrificial loyalty is later defined in John 15:13.
Why it lands — The verse contrasts numerical social connections with singular relational depth, requiring the reader to assess whether their associations build or break them. It directs attention toward cultivating one dependable relationship over many precarious ones.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- Proverbs 27:9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
- 2 Samuel 1:26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
- 1 Samuel 19:4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
- 2 Samuel 9:1 Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 2 Samuel 21:7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 2 Samuel 16:17 “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
- Matthew 26:49 Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- 2 Samuel 17:27 When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.