"Iron Sharpens Iron" as a Negative Image: Challenging the Common Interpretation of Proverbs 27:17
Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens the face his neighbor," is almost universally seen as positive. Some view this maxim as an example of "tough love," others as a rewording of a verse earlier in this passage, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend"...
| Published in: | Journal of Biblical literature |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Scholar's Press
[2016]
|
| In: |
Journal of Biblical literature
|
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Sprichwörter 27,17
/ Sharpening of tools
/ Friendship
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Friendship
B PICO della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494 B Bible. Old Testament B Religious Aspects B DE hominis dignitate (Book : Pico della Mirandola) B Reformation |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
|
| Summary: | Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens the face his neighbor," is almost universally seen as positive. Some view this maxim as an example of "tough love," others as a rewording of a verse earlier in this passage, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (27:6). There is little evidence, however, for these interpretations, which appear to reflect modern connotations of "sharpness." In fact, the biblical evidence for parts of a face that are "sharp" suggests a more negative reading, for sharp eyes or a sharp tongue show an intent to do violence or bring about destruction. The usage of the LXX's verb for "sharpen" (...) elsewhere confirms this interpretation. Proverbs 27:17 may therefore be stating that, just as an iron hammer violently pounds out soft iron in the smithing process, so too may a same-gender neighbor engage in a similarly violent act, in a manner that is little different from that of a contentious wife. This study of the Hebrew and Greek verbs for "sharpen" suggests that v. 17 continues the idea of "friendships" to be avoided (vv. 13-16). The previous passage, then, teaches the positive aspects of friendship (vv. 1-10, esp. vv. 5-10), followed by the negative aspects in vv. 11-17. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1934-3876 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Biblical literature
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.15699/jbl.1344.2016.2997 |