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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 18:19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-19.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/20_Pro_18_19.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 18:19 - The Selfishness of the Unfriendly" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/proverbs/18-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/proverbs/18-19.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/proverbs/">Proverbs</a> > <a href="/proverbs/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 19</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad19.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm" title="Proverbs 18:18">◄</a> Proverbs 18:19 <a href="/proverbs/18-20.htm" title="Proverbs 18:20">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A brother offended <i>is harder to be won</i> than a strong city: and <i>their</i> contentions <i>are</i> like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A brother offended <i>is harder to win</i> than a strong city, And contentions <i>are</i> like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />A brother who is offended <i>is harder to be won</i> than a strong city, And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />A brother offended <i>is harder to be won</i> than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A brother offended <i>is harder to win over</i> than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />A brother offended <i>is harder to win</i> over than a fortified city, And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Making up with a friend you have offended is harder than breaking through a city wall. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />An offended brother is more [resistant]than a strong city, and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall, but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and his disputes are like the bars of a fortress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, "" And contentions as the bar of a palace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />A brother falling away, above a city of strength; and strifes as the bars of a fortress.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A brother offended is more unyielding than a stronghold; such strife is more daunting than castle gates. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />An ally offended is stronger than a city; such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A brother helped by a brother is like a city helped by its fortifications; and his helpers are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />A brother is helped by his brother, like a city by its fortress, and they hold it like the bars of a fortress.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is <i>as</i> strong as a <i>well</i>-founded palace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/18-19.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=3645" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/18.htm">The Selfishness of the Unfriendly</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">18</span>Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents. <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6586.htm" title="6586: nip̄·šā‘ (V-Nifal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To rebel, transgress. A primitive root; to break away, i.e. Trespass, apostatize, quarrel.">An offended</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’āḥ (N-ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">brother is harder to win</a> <a href="/hebrew/5797.htm" title="5797: ‘ōz (N-ms) -- Strength, might. Or rowz; from azaz; strength in various applications.">than a fortified</a> <a href="/hebrew/7151.htm" title="7151: miq·qir·yaṯ- (Prep-m:: N-fsc) -- A town, city. From qarah in the sense of flooring, i.e. Building; a city.">city,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4066.htm" title="4066: ū·mə·ḏō·nīm (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Strife, contention. From diyn; a contest or quarrel.">and disputes</a> <a href="/hebrew/1280.htm" title="1280: kiḇ·rî·aḥ (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- A bar. From barach; a bolt.">are like the bars</a> <a href="/hebrew/759.htm" title="759: ’ar·mō·wn (N-ms) -- A citadel. From an unused root; a citadel.">of a castle.</a> </span><span class="reftext">20</span>From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-15.htm">Matthew 18:15-17</a></span><br />If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. / But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ / If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-23.htm">Matthew 5:23-24</a></span><br />So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-18.htm">Romans 12:18</a></span><br />If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-26.htm">Ephesians 4:26-27</a></span><br />“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, / and do not give the devil a foothold.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-17.htm">James 3:17-18</a></span><br />But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. / Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-13.htm">Colossians 3:13</a></span><br />Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-14.htm">Hebrews 12:14</a></span><br />Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-7.htm">1 Corinthians 6:7</a></span><br />The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-18.htm">2 Corinthians 5:18-19</a></span><br />All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/17-3.htm">Luke 17:3-4</a></span><br />Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/27-41.htm">Genesis 27:41</a></span><br />Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/33-1.htm">Genesis 33:1-4</a></span><br />Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. / He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. / But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/25-32.htm">1 Samuel 25:32-35</a></span><br />Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! / Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. / Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/13-22.htm">2 Samuel 13:22</a></span><br />And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/14-24.htm">2 Samuel 14:24</a></span><br />But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the face of the king.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.</p><p class="hdg">brother</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/6-19.htm">Proverbs 6:19</a></b></br> A false witness <i>that</i> speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/4-5.htm">Genesis 4:5-8</a></b></br> But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/27-41.htm">Genesis 27:41-45</a></b></br> And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob… </p><p class="hdg">than</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/16-32.htm">Proverbs 16:32</a></b></br> <i>He that is</i> slow to anger <i>is</i> better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/17-2.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/job/40-18.htm">Bar</a> <a href="/joshua/6-1.htm">Barred</a> <a href="/psalms/147-13.htm">Bars</a> <a href="/esther/9-12.htm">Castle</a> <a href="/esther/9-12.htm">Citadel</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-11.htm">City</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm">Contentions</a> <a href="/psalms/131-1.htm">Difficult</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm">Disputes</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-11.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/proverbs/14-19.htm">Gates</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/10-14.htm">Harder</a> <a href="/psalms/118-13.htm">Helped</a> <a href="/psalms/105-18.htm">Locked</a> <a href="/job/4-2.htm">Offended</a> <a href="/psalms/144-12.htm">Palace</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-14.htm">Quarreling</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-10.htm">Tower</a> <a href="/psalms/148-6.htm">Transgressed</a> <a href="/exodus/7-14.htm">Unyielding</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-1.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/psalms/78-54.htm">Won</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Wounded</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/19-25.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/songs/5-5.htm">Bar</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-10.htm">Barred</a> <a href="/isaiah/43-14.htm">Bars</a> <a href="/isaiah/25-2.htm">Castle</a> <a href="/isaiah/32-14.htm">Citadel</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-22.htm">City</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-13.htm">Contentions</a> <a href="/jeremiah/32-17.htm">Difficult</a> <a href="/romans/14-1.htm">Disputes</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-15.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-23.htm">Gates</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-12.htm">Harder</a> <a href="/isaiah/31-3.htm">Helped</a> <a href="/songs/4-12.htm">Locked</a> <a href="/jeremiah/37-18.htm">Offended</a> <a href="/songs/8-9.htm">Palace</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-13.htm">Quarreling</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-1.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/songs/4-4.htm">Tower</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-2.htm">Transgressed</a> <a href="/songs/8-6.htm">Unyielding</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-26.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/matthew/18-15.htm">Won</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-28.htm">Wounded</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/18-1.htm">A fool delights not in understanding</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city</b><br>This phrase highlights the difficulty of reconciling with someone who has been deeply hurt or offended. In ancient times, fortified cities were known for their strong defenses, often surrounded by thick walls and guarded gates, making them difficult to conquer. Similarly, a person who feels betrayed or wronged may build emotional defenses that are hard to penetrate. The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmonious relationships, as seen in <a href="/matthew/5-23.htm">Matthew 5:23-24</a>, where Jesus instructs believers to reconcile with their brothers before offering gifts at the altar. The imagery of a fortified city underscores the strength and resilience of emotional barriers, suggesting that once trust is broken, it requires significant effort and sincerity to restore it.<p><b>and disputes are like the bars of a castle</b><br>This part of the verse uses the metaphor of a castle's bars to describe the entrenchment and rigidity that can result from unresolved conflicts. In biblical times, castles were fortified structures with bars that provided security and protection. Similarly, disputes can create barriers between individuals, preventing reconciliation and fostering division. The Bible warns against allowing disputes to fester, as seen in <a href="/ephesians/4-26.htm">Ephesians 4:26-27</a>, which advises believers not to let the sun go down on their anger. The comparison to castle bars suggests that unresolved disputes can become entrenched, making it difficult to restore relationships. This imagery serves as a caution to address conflicts promptly and seek peace, reflecting the biblical call to be peacemakers as in <a href="/matthew/5-9.htm">Matthew 5:9</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/o/offended_brother.htm">Offended Brother</a></b><br>This refers to a person who has been wronged or hurt, particularly someone with whom you have a close relationship, such as a family member or friend.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/f/fortified_city.htm">Fortified City</a></b><br>In ancient times, cities were often surrounded by strong walls to protect against invaders. This imagery is used to describe the difficulty of reconciling with someone who has been deeply offended.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/castle_bars.htm">Castle Bars</a></b><br>The bars of a castle represent strong defenses, symbolizing the barriers that disputes can create between people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_offense.htm">The Power of Offense</a></b><br>Offenses can create significant barriers in relationships, akin to the walls of a fortified city. Recognizing the power of offense can motivate us to seek reconciliation quickly.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_reconciliation.htm">The Importance of Reconciliation</a></b><br>Just as a fortified city is difficult to conquer, an offended person can be difficult to win back. Prioritizing reconciliation is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_disputes.htm">Guarding Against Disputes</a></b><br>Disputes can act like bars of a castle, trapping individuals in conflict. It is important to address issues early and seek resolution to prevent long-term division.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_humility_and_forgiveness.htm">The Role of Humility and Forgiveness</a></b><br>Humility and a willingness to forgive are essential in overcoming offenses and disputes. These virtues can help dismantle the barriers that offenses create.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_wisdom.htm">Seeking God's Wisdom</a></b><br>In dealing with offenses and disputes, seeking God's wisdom through prayer and scripture can provide guidance and strength to navigate difficult situations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_proverbs_18_19_align_with_forgiveness.htm">Proverbs 18:19: How does “an offended brother” being harder to win back than a fortified city align with the Bible’s emphasis on immediate forgiveness? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_'friend_closer_than_a_brother'.htm">What does 'friend closer than a brother' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_miracle_examples.htm">What does the Bible teach about hate?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_proverbs_10_15_conflict_with_jesus.htm">Proverbs 10:15 depicts wealth as a 'fortified city'--does this conflict with Jesus' warnings about riches in the New Testament?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(19) <span class= "bld">A brother offended.--</span>Or rather, <span class= "ital">wronged.</span><p><span class= "bld">Their contentions.--</span>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.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city.</span> Something must be supplied on which the comparative notion <span class="accented">min</span>, "than," depends. So we may understand "resists more," or something similar. A brother or a once close friend, when injured or deceived, becomes a potent and irreconcilable enemy. The idea of the preceding verses is carried on, and the primary thought is still concerning lawsuits and matters brought before a judge. This is shown in the second clause by the use of the word "contentions" (<span class="accented">midyanim</span>)<span class="accented">. <span class="cmt_word"></span>And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.</span> They close the door against reconciliation, shut the heart against all feeling of tenderness. True it is, <span class="greek">Ξαλεποὶ πόλεμοι ἀδελφῶν</span> (Eurip., 'Fragm.'). And again, 'Iph. Aul.,' 376 - <p><span class="greek">Δεινὸν κασιγήτοισι γίγνεσθαι λόγους</span><br /><span class="greek">Μάχας θ ὅταν ποτ ἐμπέσωσιν εἰς ἔριν</span>. Aristotle also writes thus ('De Republ.,' 7:7): "If men receive no return from those to whom they have shown kindness, they deem themselves, not only defrauded of due gratitude, but actually injured. Whence it is said, 'Bitter are the quarrels of friends;' and, 'Those who love beyond measure also hate beyond measure.'" An English maxim gloomily decides, "Friendship once injured is forever lost." Pliny ('Hist. Nat.,' 37:4), "Ut adamas, si frangi contingat malleis, in minutissimas dissidit crustas, adeo ut vix oculis cerni queant: ita arctissima necessitudo, si quando contingat dirimi, in summam vertitur simultatem, et ex arctissimis foederibus, si semel rumpantur, maxima nascuntur dissidia." Ecclus. 6:9, "There is a friend, who being turned to enmity will also discover thy disgraceful strife," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> will disclose the quarrel which according to his representation will redound to thy discredit. The Vulgate and Septuagint have followed a different reading from that of the present Hebrew text: "Brother aided by brother is like a strong and high city, and he is powerful as a well founded palace," Septuagint. The last clause is rendered in the Vulgate. <span class="accented">Et judicia quasi vectes urbium</span>; where <span class="accented">judicia</span> means "lawsuits," legal disputes; these bar out friendship. The first member of the sentence in the Greek and Latin recalls <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-9.htm">Ecclesiastes 4:9</a>, etc., "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour," etc. St. Chrysostom, commenting on <a href="/ephesians/4-3.htm">Ephesians 4:3</a> ('Hom.,' 9.), writes, "A glorious bond is this; with this bond let us bind ourselves together alike to one another and to God. This is a bond that bruises not, nor cramps the hands it binds, but it leaves them free, and gives them ample play and greater energy than those which are at liberty. The strong, if he be bound to the weak, will support him, and not suffer him to perish; and if again he be tied to the indolent, he will rather rouse and animate. 'Brother helped by brother,' it is said, 'is as a strong city.' This chain no distance of place can interrupt, neither heaven, nor earth, nor death, nor anything else, but it is more powerful and stronger than all things." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/18-19.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">An offended</span><br /><span class="heb">נִפְשָׁ֥ע</span> <span class="translit">(nip̄·šā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6586.htm">Strong's 6586: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brother [is harder to win]</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֗ח</span> <span class="translit">(’āḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than a fortified</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹ֑ז</span> <span class="translit">(‘ōz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5797.htm">Strong's 5797: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strength, might</span><br /><br /><span class="word">city,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִקִּרְיַת־</span> <span class="translit">(miq·qir·yaṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7151.htm">Strong's 7151: </a> </span><span class="str2">A town, city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and disputes</span><br /><span class="heb">וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·miḏ·yā·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4066.htm">Strong's 4066: </a> </span><span class="str2">A contest, quarrel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are like the bars</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּבְרִ֥יחַ</span> <span class="translit">(kiḇ·rî·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1280.htm">Strong's 1280: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bolt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of a castle.</span><br /><span class="heb">אַרְמֽוֹן׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·mō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_759.htm">Strong's 759: </a> </span><span class="str2">A citadel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/18-19.htm">Proverbs 18:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/18-19.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is more difficult than (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 18:18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 18:18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/18-20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 18:20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 18:20" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>