The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:24
The Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Without determining for certain which of the various renderings of the first clause of this verse should be adopted, there can be little doubt that it points to the difficulty of maintaining a wide circle of friends in true affection, contrasted with the blessedness of enjoying one deep and real friendship. The second cause which describes that friendship claims our attention on its own account. I. THE NATURE OF BROTHERLY ... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly. The Authorized Version is certainly not correct. The Hebrew is literally, a man of friends will come to destruction. The word הִתְרוֹעֵעַ ( hithroea ) is the hithp, infinitive of רעע , "to break or destroy" (comp. Isaiah 24:19 ); and the maxim means that the man of many friends, who lays himself out to make friends of bad and good alike, does so to his own ruin. They will fled upon him, and exhaust his resources, but will... read more