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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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post. If you know someone who may find our discussions interesting or challenging, please invite them to the blog.

As always, I look forward to comments, likes and new subscribers.

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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 Ecclesiastes 1:9 and what it’s original intent as compared with our understanding today

Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

How often have you heard a peer or friend speak on nothing new under the sun, and think of the great philosopher Solomon as he wrote Ecclesiastes.

He began his treatise speaking of the vanity, or emptiness of life under the sun. One on the greatest kings mankind had ever seen, Solomon understood the futility of life under the sun. He constantly uses the term “under the sun” to speak of his arena of his experience of futility.

Ecclesiastes 1:3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

I won’t labor my reader with a complete list of verses Solomon uses “under the sun”, for it is many, but we should note that Solomon commonly connects the idea of nothing new, of futility and vanity of life with our lives under the sun.

And as he states, there is nothing new under the sun.

For our modern use of this phrase, we often use it to refer to the monotony of life, the constant waking up, and laying down, the repetition of life, and that all our experiences are similar to all our previous experiences. Tedious repetition, boring, lacking in any variety, a numbing, ponderous, drab and wearisome experience.

We use it to complain about our dreary experience, and for the most part so does Solomon. He defines it over and over again in the book, even to the point that the description of tediousness and vanity becomes wearisome.

And yet he adds the restriction to this discussion of a drudging life as being “under the sun”. This restriction is what our modern society has so sadly missed, for we surely do have a repetitive life from cradle to grave, and if without any hope from beyond the sun, it can become a most numbing experience, an experience that shows no hope of changing.

Yet Solomon implies that beyond the sun, there is not this vanity of life. If only One who is beyond the sun could provide a life that is not full of tedium and vanity. But our culture ignores this exception, assuming that this is it, there is no more, only adding to the vanity of life the option of only hopelessness.

When you hear the phrase “nothing new under the sun”, it would be wise to remember that the One above the sun, has come down below the sun, to provide a connection to life beyond the sun.

He has provided a life that can transform the tediousness to a life of purpose and with a goal we do not deserve. Let this culture repeat this phrase, for they know not the One above the sun, but let us also remember that in the day to day life we have been given, He who is beyond the sun provides us purpose, guidance, strength and a goal to honor Him.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post. If you know someone who may find our discussions interesting or challenging, please invite them to the blog.

As always, I look forward to comments, likes and new subscribers.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

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 Genesis 4:9 and what it’s original intent was when written, as compared with our understanding today.

Genesis 4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

To repeat the phrase “Am I my brother’s keeper” in our modern life, is a way to shirk responsibility, to avoid exhibiting love towards others in our circle of life, to avoid helping someone who is down on their luck, or is in need.

Now, I must admit, that in the original context, Cain is not merely speaking as a fully logical, thought driven man, for he has just performed the first murder, and that of his brother, a righteous man. I imagine he is high on adrenaline, full of conflict, guilt and condemnation, even before the voice of the Lord speaks. Remember, he is a man of the field, a man who worked the soil to produce fruits. He may not be accustomed, to the bloodletting experience of a herdsman like his brother Abel, so he is not only dealing with the violence he perpetrated on a family member, but his brother’s blood spread on the ground next to the lifeless body of his little brother.

It is amazing that the Lord did not simply convict Cain of murder, make a statement, and punish immediately. It was His right to judge and condemn. Yet He came to Cain to ask a question. Where is your brother Abel? I can’t imagine Cain simply making a logical response to God for this question. His first response was to plead ignorance and then reject responsibility!

Many times as we use this same question to refuse to love those about us, we are not trying to hide a murderous act. We are not trying to hide an action of infraticide. We are simply trying to avoid responsibility. Sometimes this phrase is used almost jokingly, and at other times it is our go to defense mechanism.

In this passage, the Lord was seeking confession. Cain attacks, with claims of ignorance, and diversionary questions. He may have still had physical blood on his hands, and yet he refused to simply admit the truth.

When you think of this question, remember that it was an effort of a sinful man to avoid responsibility, an effort to avoid the truth. With righteous blood dripping from his hands, he sought to lie to the God of all truth.

My friends, confession is good for the soul. Don’t fight against the truth, for Cain’s question only brought about more judgment. With confession, forgiveness is avaialble.

By recording this quesiton, did the Bible intend to provide us a good response when we seek to avoid the truth. It certainly did not. If we repeat this question, let it ring in your head as a self judgement, for as we make this claim, we are proving, in a small way perhaps, that our own deeds are evil, and that those we ignore or reject are righteous.

1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

This question was voiced by the first murderer. Let us not mimic him, but the One we are to follow, as He told us to love our enemy.

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Paul directs believers to be keepers of our enemy in Romans 12:20.

“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Surely this includes our brothers!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post. If you know someone who may find our discussions interesting or challenging, please invite them to the blog.

As always, I look forward to comments, likes and new subscribers.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

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 Isaiah 60:1 and what it’s original intent as compared with our understanding today.

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Our previous passage, Isaiah 57:21 spoke of no rest for the wicked. In our passage for today, we are referring to the common phrase “Arise, shine”, or as commonly stated by my mother – “Rise and shine boy”. You know, like when a parent goes into a teenagers bedroom to wake them up for school on Monday.

It is a common phrase that is used to physically wake up someone from a nights sleep, or a sweet Sunday afternoon nap in a hammock on the patio. Oh how I love those naps!

Isaiah wasn’t thinking of my naps when he wrote this passage. Let’s get some context for this verse,

Isaiah 59:9-10

9 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.

A few verses later, the Lord speaks of the LORD and of His Redeemer Jesus, in

Isaiah 59:19-20

19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.
20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

Immediately after setting the condition of the Israelites in vs 9-10, and of God’s worldwide deliverance in vs 19-20, Isaiah writes our common phrase of ” Arise and shine, – Wake up”.

This is nothing less than a call to national repentance, that as the Savior Redeemer comes out of Zion, the nation is to reflect the light of God, to arise from their death-like apostacy and indifference, and be the nation God intended them to be. A nation that would be a beacon light to the nations, that would draw the nations to the life of the Redeemer.

Consider the following verses.

Isaiah 60:2-3

3 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
4 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Israel had a responsibility to react (properly) to the Deliverer coming to them. Some did, and though darkness covered the earth – speaking of the nations, the Lord’s glory rested on those who trusted the Redeemer. Their words and actions have turned the world upside down, and impacted history for two millennia.

Arise and shine is a great saying to wake me up now that I have a better understanding of it’s source, but my goodness, how far have we fallen in our understanding of it’s intended meaning!

As an application, the Lord’s glory is to be on us, and if so, nations will come to our light, as the Lord spoke of in the gospel.

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Let us who know the Lord carry His light into our day. As we physically wake up in the morning, (or even after a wee nap) to the call of “Arise, shine”, remember that we are to also be spiritually awakened to carry His glory into our day.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post. If you know someone who may find our discussions interesting or challenging, please invite them to the blog.

As always, I look forward to comments, likes and new subscribers.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

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. After a while of considering some of these phrases, I thought there may be some benefit in a series on this topic, considering how they were originally intended in the Word, and how we may have twisted, or watered down the intent of the message by our day to day use.

With that said, I would like to start a corollary study to my “What Jesus Probably Didn’t Mean” posts with

“What the Bible Probably Didn’t Mean”

Our first verse is one I heard very often as I grew up. My mother was widowed lady with four boys ranging from a three year old to a seventeen year old, and fought daily to keep us fed and taken care of.

I remember numerous time as I was on the couch, watching the Beverly Hillbillies or Get Smart, she would come home from work, only to find more work facing her before she fell asleep. Granted, some of that work could have been lightened by one of my brothers, but that isn’t the focus of the story!

Nevertheless, it was common to hear my mother speak of some wicked people never finding rest. Eventually I came to understand she meant herself, for as she found something to clean up, or dishes to wash, she would mutter “No rest of the wicked”.

Is that the intended message of Isaiah 60:1, that because of wickedness, work will replace a good nights sleep?

Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

My momma had the saying slightly twisted, for the Word speaks of the lack of peace for the wicked. There is a difference, for though peace and rest often are associated together, there is a condition of peace for the soul, even while exhausted.

Let’s consider the conditions Isaiah was in when this passage was provided to us. Israel was in the midst of captivity due to their idolatrous lives, and Isaiah is writing in the 57th chapter of Israel’s spiritual adultery, of how God is dealing with His sinning people, and describes of how His people can find peace and restoration.

A key verse to consider in Isaiah 57:15-21 is the description of those who are with God.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Of course, those who seek God and exhibit a contrite spirit experience the peace of God in their lives, and though they go through, at times, horrendous ordeals, the witness of the church is that peace remains with those who are humble and lowly before the Lord and others.

Those who are not lowly, who exercise a proud heart and a haughty spirit are in constant turmoil within their mind and heart. Peace eludes them for they have walked away from the source of peace pursued a different path, a path of seeking unjust gain.

Those who choose this path walk away from peace, and the many benefits of trust in God that accompany a soul that bends the knee to God.

Isaiah’s description of the wicked constantly spewing up mire and dirt, as the tossing sea speaks of the unsettled heart and the unbridled tongue throwing out vile actions and words, are spoken just prior to our verse, where God states

There is no peace for the wicked

The phrase is very true today as it was in ancient days, for those who pursue worldly gain at any cost miss out on eternal gain, the peace and tranquility of knowing God. The modern message of “no rest for the wicked” is a derivative of our original saying and describes a soul that is constantly chasing of goods and possessions, instead of being caught by God, and resting in His goodness.

When we hear someone speak this common phrase, it might be best to ask if we can give them a hand, provide support, speak of peace through our actions, because we know the One who provides the peace!

Come to think of it, I should have gotten off the couch!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post. If you know someone who may find our discussions interesting or challenging, please invite them to the blog.

As always, I look forward to comments, likes and new subscribers.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com