Proverbs 17:17

A friend ¹  loves at all times, and a relative ²  is born to help in adversity. ³ 

Ru 1:16; 1Sa 18:3; 1Sa 19:2; 1Sa 20:17; 1Sa 23:16; 2Sa 1:26; 2Sa 9:1-13; Es 4:14; Pr 18:24; Pr 19:7; Joh 15:13,14; Heb 2:11

¹ sn The verse uses synonymous parallelism, so “friend” and “relative” are equated. Others, however, will take the verse with antithetical parallelism: W. G. Plaut argues that friendship is a spiritual relationship whereas a brother’s ties are based on a blood relationship – often adversity is the only thing that brings brothers together (Proverbs, 189).

² tn Heb “a brother.”

³ tn Heb “is born for adversity.” This is not referring to sibling rivalry but to the loyalty a brother shows during times of calamity. This is not to say that a brother only shows loyalty when there is trouble, nor that he always does in these times (e.g., 18:19, 24; 19:7; 27:10). The true friend is the same as a brotherly relation – in times of greatest need the loyal love is displayed.