Proverbs 18:19
Proverbs 18:19 in Multiple Translations
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a palace.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
If you help relatives, they will protect you like [SIM] a strong wall protects a city, but if you quarrel with them, that will separate you from them like bars on a city gate separate the city from those who want to enter it [MET].
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 18:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 18:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָ֗ח
נִפְשָׁ֥ע
מִ/קִּרְיַת
עֹ֑ז
ו/מדונים
וּ֝/מִדְיָנִ֗ים
כִּ/בְרִ֥יחַ
אַרְמֽוֹן
אָ֗ח
ʼâch
H251
brother
N-ms
נִפְשָׁ֥ע
pâshaʻ
H6586
to transgress
V-Niphal
מִ/קִּרְיַת
qiryâh
H7151
town
Prep | N-fs
עֹ֑ז
ʻôz
H5797
strength
N-ms
ו/מדונים
mâdôwn
H4066
strife
Conj | N-mp
וּ֝/מִדְיָנִ֗ים
midyân
H4079
contention
Conj | N-mp
כִּ/בְרִ֥יחַ
bᵉrîyach
H1280
bar
Prep | N-ms
אַרְמֽוֹן
ʼarmôwn
H759
citadel
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 18:19
אָ֗ח
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
נִפְשָׁ֥ע
pâshaʻ
H6586
"to transgress"
V-Niphal
To transgress means to break away from authority, like rebelling or revolting against God or others, as seen in Psalm 51:1. It involves intentional disobedience. This concept is key in understanding sin and guilt.
Definition: 1) to rebel, transgress, revolt 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rebel, revolt 1a2) to transgress 1b) (Niphal) to be rebelled against
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: offend, rebel, revolt, transgress(-ion, -or). See also: 1 Kings 8:50; Isaiah 46:8; Psalms 37:38.
מִ/קִּרְיַת
qiryâh
H7151
"town"
Prep | N-fs
This word refers to a town or city, a place where people live and work. It is used in the Bible to describe various urban areas.
Definition: 1) city, town 1a) in general 1b) in specific 1c) collective 1d) indefinite Aramaic equivalent: qir.yah (קִרְיָה "town" H7149)
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: city. See also: Numbers 21:28; Isaiah 22:2; Psalms 48:3.
עֹ֑ז
ʻôz
H5797
"strength"
N-ms
Describes strength or might, including physical power, social status, or boldness, like the strength of God or a strong leader.
Definition: 1) might, strength 1a) material or physical 1b) personal or social or political
Usage: Occurs in 91 OT verses. KJV: boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong. See also: Exodus 15:2; Psalms 84:6; Psalms 8:3.
ו/מדונים
mâdôwn
H4066
"strife"
Conj | N-mp
This word signifies strife or contention, describing a state of conflict or argument, as seen in KJV translations like brawling or discord. It is often used to describe disagreements or quarrels between people.
Definition: 1) strife, contention 1a) strife, contention 1b) object of contention
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: brawling, contention(-ous), discord, strife. Compare H4079 (מִדְיָן), H4090 (מְדָן). See also: Psalms 80:7; Proverbs 23:29; Proverbs 6:14.
וּ֝/מִדְיָנִ֗ים
midyân
H4079
"contention"
Conj | N-mp
Means contention or strife, describing a quarrel or dispute, as seen in the KJV translation of brawling or contention.
Definition: strife, contention
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: brawling, contention(-ous). See also: Proverbs 18:18; Proverbs 21:19; Proverbs 18:19.
כִּ/בְרִ֥יחַ
bᵉrîyach
H1280
"bar"
Prep | N-ms
A bar or bolt, often made of wood, used to secure city gates or as a symbol of tribulation. It represents a fortress or a prison.
Definition: 1) bar 1a) of wood 1b) of city gates 2) of tribulation, a fortress, of the earth as a prison (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: bar, fugitive. See also: Exodus 26:26; 2 Chronicles 14:6; Psalms 107:16.
אַרְמֽוֹן
ʼarmôwn
H759
"citadel"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for a high palace or fortress, like a citadel, appears in the Bible as a place of strength and power. It is often translated as castle or palace in the KJV. This word is used to describe the strongholds of kings and rulers.
Definition: : palace citadel, palace, fortress Also means: ar.mon (אַרְמוֹן ": fortress" H0759H)
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: castle, palace. Compare H2038 (הַרְמוֹן). See also: 1 Kings 16:18; Jeremiah 49:27; Psalms 48:4.
Study Notes — Proverbs 18:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 18:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 18:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 18:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 18:19
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 18:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
- Sermons on Proverbs 18:19
Context — The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 16:32 | He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. |
| 2 | Acts 15:39 | Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 3 | Proverbs 6:19 | a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 12:16 | When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, |
| 5 | Genesis 37:3–5 | Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. |
| 6 | 2 Samuel 13:22 | And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar. |
| 7 | Genesis 4:5–8 | but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. |
| 8 | Genesis 37:18–27 | Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!” When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said. “Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it. And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. |
| 9 | Genesis 32:6–11 | When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.” In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.” Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. |
| 10 | 1 Kings 2:23–25 | Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!” So King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died. |
Proverbs 18:19 Summary
This verse, Proverbs 18:19, teaches us that when someone is hurt or offended, it can be very hard to win them back and repair the relationship, much like trying to conquer a strong, fortified city. It's essential to be mindful of how our words and actions affect others and to strive for peace and understanding in our relationships, as encouraged in Romans 12:18 and Matthew 5:9. By being thoughtful and considerate in our interactions with others, we can build stronger, more loving relationships and avoid causing unnecessary offense. This can help us create a more harmonious and peaceful community, as described in Psalm 133:1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have an offended brother?
Having an offended brother means that a sibling or fellow believer has been hurt or wronged, often leading to a breakdown in relationship, as seen in Proverbs 18:19, and this can be very difficult to repair, much like trying to penetrate a fortified city.
How can disputes be compared to the bars of a castle?
The comparison of disputes to the bars of a castle in Proverbs 18:19 suggests that disagreements can create strong defenses and barriers between people, making it challenging to resolve conflicts and reach a place of understanding and peace, similar to the idea of strongholds in 2 Corinthians 10:4.
What is the significance of the fortified city in this verse?
The fortified city in Proverbs 18:19 represents a place of strong defense and protection, implying that an offended brother has built walls around himself, making it hard for others to reach him and restore the relationship, much like the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 4:1-3.
How can we apply this verse in our daily lives?
We can apply Proverbs 18:19 by being mindful of the impact our words and actions have on others, striving to maintain healthy relationships and avoid offense, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:29-32, and seeking to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and loving manner, as taught in Matthew 5:23-24.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have unintentionally offended a brother or sister in Christ, and how can I make amends?
- How do I respond when someone is upset with me, and what can I do to prevent further conflict?
- In what ways can I build stronger, more loving relationships with my fellow believers, and what role does effective communication play in this process?
- What are some biblical principles that can guide me in navigating difficult conversations and resolving disputes with others?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city,.... A fortified city may sooner be taken by an enemy, than one brother offended can be reconciled to another; their resentments against
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
Offended, to wit, by his brother’ s unkindness or injury. Is harder to be won; or, is stronger, which is sufficiently understood by the mention of a strong city, to which he is compared; such ellipses being frequent in the Hebrew, as hath been noted before. Than a strong city; which is hardly to be conquered. Like the bars of a castle; which are very strong, and not to be broken, and make the castle strong, and hardly to be won. The truth of this assertion is confirmed by the testimony of Aristotle and other learned authors, who affirm the same fixing; and the reason of it is evident, because the nearness of the relation greatly heightens the provocation, and love abused frequently turns to extreme hatred.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.Ver. 19. A brother offended is harder to be won, &c.] Whether it be a brother by race, place, or grace; Corruptio optimi pessima: those oft that loved most dearly, if once the devil cast his club between them, they hate most deadly. See this exemplified in Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, Polynices and Eteocles, Romulus and Remus, Caracalla and Geta, the two sons of Severus the Emperor, Robert and Rufus, the sons of William the Conqueror, the civil dissensions between the houses of York and Lancaster, wherein were slain eighty princes of the blood royal, the dissensions between England and Scotland, which consumed more Christian blood, wrought more spoil and destruction, and continued longer than ever quarrel we read of did between any two people of the world. As for brethren by profession, and that of the true religion too, among Protestants, you shall meet with many divisions, and those prosecuted with a great deal of bitterness. Nullum bellum citius exardescit, nullum deflagrat tardius quam Theologicum. No war breaks out sooner, or lasts longer, than that among divines, or as that about the sacrament; a sacrament of love, a communion, and yet the occasion, by accident, of much dissension. This made holy Strigelius weary of his life. Cupio ex hac vita migrare ob duas causas, saith he. For two causes chiefly do I desire to depart out of this world; First, That I may enjoy the sweet sight of the Son of God, and the Church above; Next, Ut liberer ab immanibus et implicabilibus odiis Theologorum, that I may be delivered from the cruel and implacable hatreds of dissenting divines. There is a most sad story of those that fled to Frankfort hence in Queen Mary’ s time; yet among them there were such grievous breaches, that they sought the lives one of another; great care therefore must be taken that brethren break not friendship: or if they do, that they reunite in peace again as soon as is possible.
Dan, 192. Bucholcer. Melch. Adam, in Vita.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
(19) A brother offended.—Or rather, wronged. Their contentions.—Of such as have once been friends, “are like the bars of a castle,” or palace, forming an almost impassable barrier to reconciliation. The bitterness of quarrels between friends is proverbial.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
Verse 19. 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.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 18:19
19. offended] or injured, R.V. marg. like the bars of a castle] forming an impassable barrier to reconciliation.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 18:19
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.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 18:19
19. A brother offended — Estranged, because of some real or supposed wrong done him.
Sermons on Proverbs 18:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Separated From Our Loved Ones by Keith Daniel | This sermon delves into the fearful possibility of separation from loved ones, both in this life and for eternity, emphasizing the consequences of rejecting God and the need for si |
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Hebrews 12:11-15 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the importance of enduring chastisement and trials, comparing it to bitter medicine that yields the fruit of righteousness in the end. He encourages |
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Job's Trials and Mercies by William Plumer | William Plumer preaches on the profound story of Job, highlighting his unwavering faith and patience amidst extreme suffering and loss. Job, a man of great piety and wealth, faced |
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When Brothers Quarrel by Timothy Tow | Timothy Tow preaches on the difficulty of reconciling with offended brothers, using examples from court cases and biblical figures like Paul and Barnabas. He emphasizes the importa |
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Homily 3 on the Acts of the Apostles by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches on the selection of Matthias as an Apostle to replace Judas, emphasizing the importance of prayer, unity, and seeking God's guidance in making decisions. H |
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The Greatest Thing Is Love by Ernest Barker | In this sermon, the speaker uses a fable about two bears in the woods to illustrate the importance of self-control and unity among believers. The bears try to imitate the behavior |
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Proverbs 25- Anger Destroys Families" by Nofo Eletise | This sermon emphasizes the importance of key virtues in the Christian life, focusing on patience, privacy, wisdom, gentleness, kindness, and self-control. It highlights the need fo |