Early in my writing in this blog, I wrote on the topic of “What Jesus Probably Didn’t Mean”. I really enjoyed finding the intended meaning of the phrase, by simply considering the context of the passage. It was usually very challenging!

It has been quite a while since I had considered that series, and when I was “a pondering”, I considered that the Word, apart from the gospels, has provided numerous sayings or phrases we hear in our day to day lives.

Let’s take a moment to consider Proverbs 18:24 and what it’s original message was as compared with my initial understanding.

I just finished a post on James 2:12-13, under the “Let me Tell You a Story” series and while I was trying to unpack James’ intended message (that I think I finally understand), I was about to refer to our verse in Proverbs under consideration this morning. I understood it would support James general point of teaching – his call for us to be kind and to exercise mercy to those less fortunate. My reference verse was a memory verse from so long ago, I had always interpreted Solomon as generally saying to be friendly.

You know – if your friendly, you will have friends. I think this is a generally obvious truth, but I don’t think Solomon is aiming to teach this after considering the bulk of translations we will quickly review in this post.

Let’s get started.

KJV

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

As mentioned above, the ol KJV reinforced the thinking that to have friends required being friendly. Be friendly and get friends. Simple!

YLT

A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!

The Youngs Literal Translation is very close to the KJV. It tends to introduce the requirement to be friendly due to having friends.

NKJV

A man who has friends must himself be friendly*,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

*some manuscripts read “may come to ruin”

The New King James is very similar to the Old King James, other than it provides a note regarding readings of other transcripts. A bit of a surprise for a fellow that has his foundation in the KJV, but it set me on a trek to understand this verse in a whole new way.

This particular passage may be one of the first verses I have run across where the two manuscripts have a minor deviation in the original autographs, seemingly making a difference in the message. As you may know, the KJV and the NKJV are based on the Textus Receptus. All other translations take advantage of manuscripts that have been discovered since the KJV was first translated.

I understand these new manuscripts agree 99% with the Textus Receptus, and in the case of our verse this morning, we find one of the rare times there is a variation. And this variation has helped me to see that What the Bible Probably Didn’t Mean was the result of my referring to only one translation. I would encourage all to take advantage of the explosion of translations the English world is blessed with to better understand the message that God has provided us.

Nevertheless, let us continue with the translation review and try to understand Solomon’s intent with this verse.

ESV

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Ok – This is not the same message! Many companions begin to give me the idea of those who are not deep friends, but that the relationship is somewhat less than I originally thought. This should make sense, for if I took a bit of time and considered my original understanding, I might have thought different.

How many deep and lasting friends have you had in your life? How many companions? I will readily admit that I have had many companions, for while we may have had a common purpose or the same local geography, we enjoyed each others company. But once things change, the nearness fades, and time proves the friendship was somewhat of a surface relationship, that of a companion.

NLT

There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

What? When I first read this, I was flabbergasted. What is going on here? Ok now that my concept of friend has been adjusted to that of possibly just companions, this translation begins to bring a negative slant to the first phrase. Friends that destroy each other?

NIV

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Now the verse is speaking of friends who I consider simply acquaintances, even those who are fair weather friends. We all know of these people, and surely we are such to those we have encountered in our lives. This version highlights the danger of having surface friends, those who are not of a sacrificial nature, but that we assume so. Those who promise the world yet do not stand by us. Trusting in these folk is an invitation to disappointment.

CSB

One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Is this speaking of the disadvantage of having many friends? What is going on here?

NASB20

A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

NASB95

A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

As the CSB provided guidance as to the possibility of being harmed if I have too many “friends”, the NASB seems to make it a fact! A person with too many friends comes to ruin. What a statement! How could this be true?

My imagination is running wild with this particular translation, and is thinking of the man or woman who has found success in life, with everyone wanting to be associated with them. The continual praise and “friendship” received by so many “friends” during a time of success provides a false sense of security. Once the success fades, or another person’s success draws away those friends, the true nature of the situation is revealed and can lead to a ruination, a time of emptiness and disappointment.

The verse speaks of false friends, the unwise dependence on these fair weather friends, and the direction to the wise to depend on a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Though there is a variation to the meaning of this verse due to manuscript sources, it should be considered wise to understand Solomon’s main point. Trust in God for He is the best friend you will ever encounter. Fair weather friends will come and go, but God is faithful, God is good and God has went through extreme acts of sacrifice to prove His care for us.

Trust Him.

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Below find a few additional verses for those who would like to continue reading some of the variations of translations.

LSB

A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

AMP

The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

NET

A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

RSV

There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

ASV

He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

DBY

A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

WEB

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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