PROV 27:17 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Σίδηρος σίδηρον ὀξύνει, ἀνὴρ δὲ παροξύνει πρόσωπον ἑταίρου.
(Sidaʸros sidaʸron oxunei, anaʸr de paroxunei prosōpon hetairou. )

ULT Iron sharpens against iron,
⇔ and a man sharpens the face of his neighbor.

UST We can use one iron tool to sharpen another iron tool; similarly, when one person shares what he is thinking, it can help another person to think more clearly.

27:17 Hebrew sharpens the face of another or sharpens the countenance of a friend

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE ⇔ Iron sharpens iron;
⇔ so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET As iron sharpens iron,
⇔ so a person sharpens his friend.

LSV Iron is sharpened by iron,
And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

FBV An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.

T4T ⇔ We can use one iron tool to sharpen another iron tool;
⇔ similarly [SIM], when one person shares what he is thinking, it can help other people to think more clearly.

LEB • As iron sharpens[fn] iron, so one man sharpens another .[fn]

27:? Or “is united with”

27:? Literally “a man sharpens the faces of his friend”

BBE Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.

Moff As iron whets iron,
⇔ so one man whets another.

JPS Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

ASV Iron sharpeneth iron;
⇔ So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

DRA Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

YLT Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

Drby Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

RV Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

SLT Iron will sharpen upon iron; and a man will sharpen the face of his friend.

Wbstr Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

KJB-1769 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

KJB-1611 Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Like as one iron whetteth another, so doth one man comfort another.
(Like as one iron whetteth another, so doth/does one man comfort another.)

Gnva Yron sharpeneth yron, so doeth man sharpen the face of his friend.
(Yron sharpeneth iron, so doth/does man sharpen the face of his friend. )

Cvdl Like as one yro whetteth another, so doth one man comforte another.
(Like as one iron whetteth another, so doth/does one man comfort another.)

Wycl Yrun is whettid bi irun; and a man whettith the face of his frend.
(Yrun is whettid by irun; and a man whettith the face of his friend.)

Luth Ein Messer wetzt das andere und ein Mann den andern.
(A Messer wetzt the other/different and a man the change/modify.)

ClVg Ferrum ferro exacuitur, et homo exacuit faciem amici sui.[fn]
(Iron with_iron exacuitur, and human exacuit face friends self. )

27.17 Ferrum ferro. Bona consolatio consilium sapientum: qui dum se invicem consolando instruunt, ferrum ferro acuitur.

27.17 Iron with_iron. Bona consolation advice wise_men: who/which while himself each_other consolando instruunt, iron with_iron acuitur.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

27:17

The topic of this comparison (27:17b) is the way that one person sharpens the thinking of another person. The illustration (27:17a) is the way that one piece of iron sharpens another piece of iron.

^17aAs iron sharpens iron,

^17bso one man sharpens another.

The similarity is that the quality of a person’s thinking and the edge of an iron tool are both improved.

In Hebrew, this is an implied comparison. The two lines are connected with the word “and.” For example:

^17aIron sharpens iron,

^17band one person sharpens the wits of another. (NRSV)

Translate this comparison in a way that makes the topic and illustration clear in your language.

27:17a

As iron sharpens iron,

¶ When iron tools are rubbed together, their blades sharpen each other.
¶ Just as an iron sharpener improves the blade/edge of a knife/machete,

As iron sharpens iron: This line refers to the process of sharpening an iron tool, such as a knife. When the edge is rubbed against another piece of iron, it becomes sharper. Some other ways to translate this line are:

A person uses a piece of iron to sharpen an iron blade/knife.

In the same way that a piece of iron can improve the sharpness/edge of a knife/machete

Notice that the word “iron” is used only once in the second example. This may be a good option if it is awkward to mention “iron” twice and if people clearly understand that tools with blades are made of iron.

27:17a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ One person teaches his fellowman like one piece of iron sharpens another.
¶ When two people converse, they help each other to think more clearly. It is like two pieces of iron. When they are rubbed together, they sharpen each other.

27:17b

so one man sharpens another.

In the same way, when people interact with one another, they sharpen each other’s minds/character.
so also one person improves the ability of another person to think clearly.

so one man sharpens another: In Hebrew, this line is literally “one man sharpens the face of another.” Here the word “face” represents a person’s thinking ability, character, or behavior. When one person interacts with another person, both people learn from each other and their thinking ability clearly improves.

In English, words such as “sharp/sharpen” and “keen” can be used to describe both the blades of iron tools and the minds or wits of people. For example:

one person is sharpened by contact with another (NJB)

friends sharpen the minds of each other (CEV)

two people help each other to have keen thoughts

In other languages, it will be necessary to use more general terms. For example:

one person improves the ability of another person to think clearly

People learn from one another (GNT)

people can improve each other (NCV)

General Comment on 27:17a–b

In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different term in each line. For example:

^17aAs iron sharpens iron,

^17bso people can improve each other. (NCV)

It may also be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

^17bPeople learn from one another,

^17ajust as iron sharpens iron. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron by,iron sharpens and,anyone sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what he says in the second clause to what he says in the first clause. In the same way that Iron sharpens against iron, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Iron sharpens against iron; similarly, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron by,iron sharpens and,anyone sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “A man sharpens the face of his neighbor as iron sharpens against iron”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ & רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

and,anyone & his/its=neighbour

Although a man and his are masculine, Solomon is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “and a person … that person’s neighbor”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יַ֣חַד

sharpens

Here Solomon uses sharpens to refer to developing or improving someone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “helps to improve”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פְּנֵֽי

face/surface_of