As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Prov 27:17)
Friends,
Since this phrase is bandied about as an axiom of congenial mutual edification, I’d like to remind our readers of a few, maybe less-than-obvious, facts.
The first, possibly overlooked, fact is that when Solomon wrote this, the technological state of iron metallurgy around the dawn of the last millennium before the birth of Jesus (the abrupt dying of the bronze age) was infantile. Modern ideas of iron were unheard of at that time. Furnaces were just being invented that could even soften iron, and pure iron was softer than bronze. Any iron being used in the Mideast at the time was mostly “meteoric”, a combination of iron and nickel found in earth-fallen meteors. The Hittites (enemies of God) held a closely guarded industry of iron fabrication which would eventually be taken by the Philistines. Iron arms trafficking shows up in Judges chapter 4 speaking of the Israelite enemy Sisera, and his seemingly invincible “nine hundred chariots of iron,” (Judges 4:13), a new technology obviously purchased from Philistia or Egypt. The armies of Israel would still carry mostly crude weapons for warfare, and any advanced weapons they might have would be made of bronze (copper & tin). So, we ask, what metallurgical understanding, specifically of iron, was common enough to Solomon’s first hearers to make this proverb poignant? Specifically, what would the first hearers of this proverb think wise Solomon was saying?
The second fact is, no one tries to sharpen an edge on a piece of iron with another piece of iron. It was well known to Solomon that such an attempt would be ineffective. From the earliest use of iron weaponry, iron would be sharpened with damp stone (and it still is). So why would the wisest man on earth use this phrase?
Next, the Hebrew word for “sharpens” (ḥād̠ad̠) used two times in this proverb carries the idea of being severe, (severing), harsh, inclement, unyielding, or fierce. It is the same word used to describe horses of the Babylonian cavalry, where the word is rendered “fierce” (Hab. 1:8). The image produced by iron clashing against iron is not one of pleasant mutual betterment, but of ferocity and spark-inducing friction. So why induce this image if a congenial edification is meant to be implied?
Lastly, I remind my readers of the context (setting) of this proverb. While to the casual reader, the various proverbs may seem isolated, disconnected, and can be read like picking fortune cookies out of a bowl, the more astute reader will read them as a collective, important pieces of a mosaic, dabs of paint on a beautiful picture of a beautiful mind, the intricate mind of the wise King of Israel. The proverb we call 27:17 is integral within a collection of proverbs titled “More proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied” (Proverbs 25:1). It seems Solomon may have been pondering the value of The King’s friends as he writes:
“Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” (v2)
“Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend (beloved), But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (v5-6)
“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend (acquaintance) gives delight by hearty counsel (expressing himself). Do not forsake your own friend (acquaintance) or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” (v9-10)
“He who blesses his friend (acquaintance) with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.” (v14)
A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (v15-17)
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him." (i.e.As silver is refined in the crucible, and gold in the heat of the furnace; so is a man is made praiseworthy by his trials) (v21)
Through his poetic proverbs, the “preacher” reminds us that “Open rebuke”, “faithful wounds”, “hearty counsel” (speaking ones mind), “sharpening”, “refining” are all harsh blessings that come through interactions with others. Verses 15-17 reveal that even though one may have little success, and little profit from arguing with a contentious woman, he will still benefit from the blunt interaction with another person. I’m not advocating intentionally being blunt, or severe with others, The gentleness of Jesus goes a long way, but when it does happen, (and it will) God will refine you through it.
My two cents worth of blunt sharpening.
KP