Glad to hear you are already familiar with Keil and Delitzsch, @Kpuff. Are there any other secondary sources you would recommend?
ḥāḏaḏ, חָדָה
ḥāḏāh: I. A verb meaning to be keen; to slash, to sharpen, be quick, be fierce. It describes the horses of the Babylonian cavalry in the evening as more quick, keen, or fierce than wolves (Hab_1:8). It depicts a sharpened sword as both literal and symbolic of the Lord’s “sword” of imminent judgment on Israel (Ezk_21:9-11 [14-16], Ezk_21:16 [21]).
II. A verb meaning to sharpen. It is used of iron sharpening iron from which comes the simile of one person sharpening another (Pro_27:17).
H2300. chadad
[חָדַד] verb be sharp, keen (Aramaic חֲדַד; Late Hebrew חִדֵּד sharpen; Arabic be sharp and sharpen; Assyrian Piel uddudu, sharpen, DlPr 174, W 121) — Qal Perfect עֶרֶב מִזְּאֵבֵי וְחַדּ֫וּ consecutive Hab_1:8 are keener than evening wolves (of impetuous Chaldean horses). Hiphil הֵחֵד (Che Or Brd) or יַחֵד (Näg compare Dr§ 123 a, R), insert Isa_44:12 after ᵑ6 ᵐ5: the smith sharpeneth an axe.
Hophal Perfect3feminine singular הוּחַדָּה Ezk_21:14; Ezk_21:15; Ezk_21:16 be sharpened (in all, subject חֶרֶב). — See also 1. חדה. I. [חָדָה] verb be or grow sharp; — Qal grow sharp, Imperfect with apocope = jussive יָ֑חַד Pro_27:17 a; Hiphil sharpen (figurative), Imperfect apoc. יַ֫חַד Pro_27:17 b; מְּנֵירֵֿעֵהוּ יַחְד וְאִישׁ יָ֑חַד בְּבֶרְזֶל בַּרְזֶל let iron by means of iron grow sharp, and let a man sharpen the countenance (presence, bearing) of his friend; — so KiMichl. 126 a De Now KöLgb i, 373 f., compare Str. (who however makes both forms Hiph`il)
If you go to the Septuagint you will find this
Pro 27:17 IronG4604 [2ironG4604 1sharpens];G3690.3 and a manG435 G1161 sharpensG3947 the faceG4383 of his companion.G2083
Total Occurrences: 2
παροξύνεται paroxýnetai (1) V-PPI-3S
easily provoked 1Co_13:5
παρωξύνετο parôxýneto (1) V-IPI-3S
was stirred Act_17:16
English to Strong’s
provoked G2042, G3947
stirred G1892, G3947, G3951, G4531, G4787, G4797
paroxúnō; fut. paroxunṓ, from pará (G3844), at the point of, unto, implying movement toward a certain point, and oxúnō (G3691), to sharpen, incite, irritate. To sharpen or whet (Sept.: Deu_32:41). Metaphorically, to sharpen the mind, temper, or courage of someone, to incite, to impel. In the NT, it means to provoke or rouse to anger or indignation; only in the mid. / pass. paroxúnomai (Act_17:16; 1Co_13:5; Sept.: Deu_1:34; Deu_9:18-19).
Deriv.: paroxusmós (G3948), incitement, provocation, paroxysm.
Syn.: erethízō (G2042), to excite, stir up; parorgízō (G3949), to provoke to wrath or anger; parazēlóō (G3863), to provoke to jealousy.
so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; by conversation with him; thus learned men sharpen one another’s minds, and excite each other to learned studies; Christians sharpen one another’s graces, or stir up each other to the exercise of them, and the gifts which are bestowed on them, and to love and to good works. So Jarchi and Gersom understand it of the sharpening of men’s minds to the learning of doctrine; but Aben Ezra, takes it in an ill sense, that as iron strikes iron and sharpens it, so a wrathful man irritates and provokes wrath in another. Some render the words, “as iron delighteth in iron, so a man rejoiceth the countenance of his friend”, (i): by his company and conversation.
Gill.
So with all the evidence on the table, and seeing how commentators differ on this verse, the real question is who has the stronger case, and whether this is truly an issue that touches salvation?
How dost thou answer? Let’s “whisper” to each other Achi.
