Proverbs 27:17 — Word Study
WLCבַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־ רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
BSA◂As ironbarzel [a strong metal] sharpenschâdad▸ ◂ironbarzel [making it keen, refining it] ◂so one manʼîysh [a person, individual] sharpenschâdad▸ [refines, makes keen] anotherrêaʻ [his friend, companion, neighbor]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בַּרְזֶ֣ל | iron | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל | by iron | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָ֑חַד | it grows sharp | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ | and each | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יַ֣חַד | he sharpens | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| פְּנֵֽי־ | [the] face of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ | neighbor his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. |
| KJV | 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. |
| YLT | Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend. |
| WEB | Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. |
| BBE | Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend. |
Translations agree on the metaphor of sharpening, showing a consistent understanding of the verse's meaning.
The verse is structured with a main clause followed by a parallel clause, emphasizing the relationship between the two ideas.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectבַּרְזֶל
verbיַחַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 27:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom in Relationshipsgenerated
Proverbs 27:17 emphasizes the value of relationships, showing that just as iron sharpens iron, individuals can enhance each other's qualities through interaction. This verse is situated within a broader discussion of wisdom and the dynamics of human connections, as seen in the surrounding verses that highlight the importance of mutual support and guidance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 13:20–21 | Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles. |
| 2 | Proverbs 27:9 | Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul. |
| 3 | Joshua 1:18 | Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” |
| 4 | Joshua 2:24 | “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.” |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 11:9–10 | So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בַּרְזֶל, bar.Zelgenerated
The word בַּרְזֶל (barzel) is a noun that means 'iron', a strong metal commonly used for tools and implements. It symbolizes strength and resilience, often appearing in contexts that emphasize harshness or severity. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun, showing its foundational role in the metaphor of sharpening.
Iron's role in this verse is not just literal; it serves as a metaphor for the relationships between individuals. The act of sharpening implies a process of refinement and improvement, suggesting that interactions with others can lead to personal growth and enhanced qualities.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction. The first clause, בַּרְזֶל יָ֑חַד, establishes the action of sharpening, while the second clause, אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד, mirrors this action in the context of human relationships. The structure emphasizes the parallelism between the sharpening of iron and the sharpening of individuals.
The finite verbs יָ֑חַד and יַ֣חַד indicate the active role both iron and a man play in the sharpening process, highlighting the dynamic nature of relationships.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, בַּרְזֶל is rendered as σίδηρος, which also means 'iron'. This choice maintains the strength and durability associated with iron, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the original Hebrew metaphor, emphasizing the sharpening aspect within interpersonal relationships.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 27:17 teaches that just as iron sharpens iron, people can help each other grow and improve. This verse highlights the importance of relationships and how they can refine our character.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that just as iron tools are made sharper and more effective through contact with each other, people can enhance each other's abilities and qualities through their interactions.
You can seek relationships that encourage growth, where friends challenge and support each other in becoming better individuals.
While it primarily addresses friendships, the principle can apply to any relationship where mutual growth and support occur.
Sharpening implies a process of improvement and refinement, suggesting that interactions with others can lead to personal development.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced growth through my relationships with others?
- How can I be a source of encouragement and sharpening for my friends?
- What qualities do I value in friendships that help both parties grow?
- How can I seek out relationships that promote mutual improvement?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced this verse to illustrate the importance of mutual support and wisdom in relationships.
Iron sharpens iron, etc. The consultation and advice of the wise is quite good, where they instruct each other by consulting, iron sharpens iron.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 27 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 27:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIron sharpeneth iron,.... A sword or knife made of iron is sharpened by it; so butchers sharpen their knives; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; by conversation with him; thus learned
Read John Gill on Proverbs 27 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 27 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIron cutting tools are made bright, and sharp, and fit for use by rubbing them against the file, or some other iron. So a man, who being alone is sad, and dull, and unactive, by the company and conversation of his friend is greatly refreshed, his very wits are sharpened, and his spirit revived, and he is both fitted for and provoked to action. The countenance is here put for the mind or spirit, whose temper or disposition is commonly visible in men’ s countenances.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 27 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.Ver. 17. Iron sharpeneth iron.] One edge tool sharpeneth another; so doth the face of a man his friend. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith Seneca. Let us "whet one another to love and good works," saith Paul, as boars whet their tusks, as mowers whet their scythes. Thus Paul was "pressed in spirit" by the coming of Timothy, and extimulates Timothy to "stir up (αναζωπυρειν) the gift of God that was in him." Thus Peter roused up (διεγειρειν) those to whom he wrote, ex veterno torporis et teporis, out of their spiritual lethargy. And thus those good souls "spake often one to another," for mutual…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 27 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend—i.e., the play of wit with wit sharpens and brightens up the face.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 27 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Iron sharpeneth iron] As hard iron, viz., steel, will bring a knife to a better edge when it is properly whetted against it: so one friend may be the means of exciting another to reflect, dive deeply into, and illustrate a subject, without which whetting or excitement, this had never taken place. Had Horace seen this proverb in the Septuagint translation when he wrote to the Pisos? Ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quae ferrum valet, exors ipsa secandi. HOR. ARS. POET., ver. 304. "But let me sharpen others, as the hone Gives edge to razors, though itself have none." FRANCIS.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 27 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. sharpeneth] This has been understood to mean exasperates. Comp. Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me, Job 16:9 (where, however, the Hebrew word is different). But, as it is a friend that is spoken of here, it is better to take the proverb in a good sense. See for illustrations, 1 Kings 10:1; 1 Kings 10:3; Acts 28:15. The effect, however, is mutual, not like that of the whetstone to which Horace compares the critic, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi. De Art. Poet. 304, 5.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 27 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe proverb expresses the gain of mutual counsel as found in clear, well-defined thoughts. Two minds, thus acting on each other, become more acute.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 27 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.
Tyndale line
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Yron sharpeneth yron, so doeth man sharpen the face of his friend.
Strictly literal
Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
Iron is sharpened by iron, || And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; in the same way, a man sharpens his friend.
From the Latin
Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Simplified
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of בַּרְזֶל בְּבַרְזֶל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־ רֵעֵֽהוּ. Both texts convey the same metaphorical meaning, illustrating the sharpening relationship between individuals.
בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־ רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 27:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בַּרְזֶל (barzel) means 'iron' and can refer to iron ore or iron implements like tools and utensils. It also carries figurative meanings related to harshness, strength, or oppression. The word may be derived from a root associated with cutting. There is an Aramaic equivalent, פַּרְזֶל (parzel), also meaning 'iron'.
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
iron, lit.
tool of iron
iron in fig. of unwatered earth
base
H1270 בַּרְזֶל iron
1270 barzel bar-zel'
perhaps from the root of 1269; iron (as cutting); by
extension, an iron implement:--(ax) head, iron.
see HEBREW for 01269
בַּרְזֶל (bar.zel) — iron.
1) iron
1a) iron
1a1) iron ore
1a2) as material of furniture, utensils, implements
2) tool of iron
3) harshness, strength, oppression (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: par.zel (פַּרְזֶל "iron" H6523)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Iron
Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3: 29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr.…
is mentioned with brass as the earliest of known metals. (Genesis 4:22) The natural wealth in iron of the soil of Canaan is indicated by describing it as a land whose stones are iron." (8:9) (Recent explorations have shown that iron ore is abundant in the northern part of Palestine. --ED.) The book of Job contains passages which indicate that iron was a metal well known. Sheet-iron was used for cooking utensils. (Ezekiel 4:3) cf. Levi 7:9 That it was plentiful in the time of David appears from (1 Chronicles 22:3) The market of Tyre was supplied with bright or polished iron by the merchants of by Dan and Javan. (Ezekiel 27:19) The Chalybes of the Pontus were celebrated as…
Was early known and wrought, Ge 4:22. Moses often alludes to it. He compares the bondage in Egypt to a furnace for smelting iron, and speaks of the iron ore of Canaan, De 3:11 4:20 8:9. Many different articles and tools were anciently made of it. Immense quantities were provided for the building of the temple, 1Ch 29:2,7. "Iron" is used to illustrated slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude, affliction, etc., De 28:48 Job 40:18 Isa 48:4 Jer 1:18 Eze 22:18,20…
בַּרְזֶל (barzel) means 'iron' and can refer to iron ore or iron implements like tools and utensils. It also carries figurative meanings related to harshness, strength, or oppression. The word may be derived from a root associated with cutting. There is an Aramaic equivalent, פַּרְזֶל (parzel), also meaning 'iron'.
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
iron, lit.
tool of iron
iron in fig. of unwatered earth
base
H1270 בַּרְזֶל iron
1270 barzel bar-zel'
perhaps from the root of 1269; iron (as cutting); by
extension, an iron implement:--(ax) head, iron.
see HEBREW for 01269
בַּרְזֶל (bar.zel) — iron.
1) iron
1a) iron
1a1) iron ore
1a2) as material of furniture, utensils, implements
2) tool of iron
3) harshness, strength, oppression (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: par.zel (פַּרְזֶל "iron" H6523)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
Iron
Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3: 29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr.…
is mentioned with brass as the earliest of known metals. (Genesis 4:22) The natural wealth in iron of the soil of Canaan is indicated by describing it as a land whose stones are iron." (8:9) (Recent explorations have shown that iron ore is abundant in the northern part of Palestine. --ED.) The book of Job contains passages which indicate that iron was a metal well known. Sheet-iron was used for cooking utensils. (Ezekiel 4:3) cf. Levi 7:9 That it was plentiful in the time of David appears from (1 Chronicles 22:3) The market of Tyre was supplied with bright or polished iron by the merchants of by Dan and Javan. (Ezekiel 27:19) The Chalybes of the Pontus were celebrated as…
Was early known and wrought, Ge 4:22. Moses often alludes to it. He compares the bondage in Egypt to a furnace for smelting iron, and speaks of the iron ore of Canaan, De 3:11 4:20 8:9. Many different articles and tools were anciently made of it. Immense quantities were provided for the building of the temple, 1Ch 29:2,7. "Iron" is used to illustrated slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude, affliction, etc., De 28:48 Job 40:18 Isa 48:4 Jer 1:18 Eze 22:18,20…
חָדַד (chadad) and חָדַה (chadah) both relate to the concept of sharpness. The first refers to being sharp or keen, while the second emphasizes the process of becoming sharp or the act of sharpening. The entries suggest a figurative use as well, indicating severity or fierceness. A specific verse reference is not provided.
[חָדַד] vb. be sharp, keen
Qal are keener than evening wolves
Hiph. the smith sharpeneth an axe.
Hoph. be sharpened
base
[חָדַה] vb. be or grow sharp
Qal grow sharp
Hiph. sharpen (fig.)
base
H2300a חָדַד be sharp, keen H2300b חָדַה be or grow sharp
2300 chadad khaw-dad'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) sharp or
(figuratively) severe:--be fierce, sharpen.
חָדַד (cha.dad) — be sharp.
1) to be sharp, be alert, be keen
1a) (Qal) to be sharp, be keen
1b) (Hiphil) to sharpen
1c) (Hophal) to be sharpened
Also means: cha.dah (חָדַה "to sharpen" H2300B)
חָדַה (cha.dah) — to sharpen.
1) to be or to grow sharp
1a) (Qal) to grow sharp
1b) (Hiphil) to sharpen
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
חָדַד (chadad) and חָדַה (chadah) both relate to the concept of sharpness. The first refers to being sharp or keen, while the second emphasizes the process of becoming sharp or the act of sharpening. The entries suggest a figurative use as well, indicating severity or fierceness. A specific verse reference is not provided.
[חָדַד] vb. be sharp, keen
Qal are keener than evening wolves
Hiph. the smith sharpeneth an axe.
Hoph. be sharpened
base
[חָדַה] vb. be or grow sharp
Qal grow sharp
Hiph. sharpen (fig.)
base
H2300a חָדַד be sharp, keen H2300b חָדַה be or grow sharp
2300 chadad khaw-dad'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) sharp or
(figuratively) severe:--be fierce, sharpen.
חָדַד (cha.dad) — be sharp.
1) to be sharp, be alert, be keen
1a) (Qal) to be sharp, be keen
1b) (Hiphil) to sharpen
1c) (Hophal) to be sharpened
Also means: cha.dah (חָדַה "to sharpen" H2300B)
חָדַה (cha.dah) — to sharpen.
1) to be or to grow sharp
1a) (Qal) to grow sharp
1b) (Hiphil) to sharpen
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
base
H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow
7453 rea` ray'-ah
or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less
close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,
neighbour, X (an-)other.
see HEBREW for 0reya2
see HEBREW for 07462
רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.
1) friend, companion, fellow, another person
1a) friend, intimate
1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)
1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms