18. Striketh hands Becomes surety. (See note on Proverbs 6:13; Proverbs 11:15) In the presence of his friend That is, in behalf of, or to, his friends for some third person. Thus the Speaker’s Commentary, which thinks the reappearance of this warning is suggested by the previous verse. read more
19. He loveth transgression Or sin: or, a lover of rebellion is a lover of war. It is uncertain which is subject and which is predicate. He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction That is, in effect. The imagery of the clause is supposed to come from the custom of making low gates, in order to guard against the incursions of predatory horsemen. A high gate, often made so at great expense for ornament and the gratification of the owner’s vanity, enabled them to dash in, without... read more
20. A froward heart A perverse, crooked disposition, which hinders his finding good. A perverse tongue Literally, he whose tongue is turned; hence an untruthful tongue. Falleth into mischief Trouble. Truly such a tongue is “an unruly member.” read more
21. A fool A boor; a dolt. Two different words are rendered “fool” in the text. They are akin in sense, but there is a shade of difference between them. The first contains the idea of impiety joined with coarseness; the second, of impiety joined with dullness. Comp. Proverbs 10:1, and the converse, Proverbs 23:24; Proverbs 15:20. read more
22. A merry heart doeth good… medicine Makes a good medicine “a happy cure.” Gesenius. Broken spirit A heart so smitten as to be devoid of gladness drieth the bones. The proverb recognises the well-known fact in psychology, that a happy frame of mind and a joyous temperament contribute greatly to health of body, and that nothing has a more powerful tendency to injure it than grief, anxiety, fretfulness, and bad temper. Compare Proverbs 15:25; Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 3:8; Hosea 5:13. read more
23. A gift A bribe. Out of the bosom The Asiatics carry their purse in their bosom above their girdle. To pervert the ways of judgment To deflect, turn aside, or influence, the course of a judicial decision. The language implies that this is done secretly. Compare Proverbs 21:14; Proverbs 18:15. read more
24. Wisdom… before him Present with him or before him, as a mark at which he looks. “Wisdom is in the face of him that hath understanding;” that is, is seen in his clear, steadfast look. Eyes of a fool… ends of the earth His garish, wandering eyes fix on nothing that will avail to his good; they mind those things which least concern him. Patrick. read more
25. Foolish son Comp, Proverbs 17:21; Proverbs 10:1. read more
26. To punish the just The upright. The passage may be translated thus: To amerce (or punish) the righteous is not good. The latter clause presents an aggravation of the offence. Not good A meiosis, in which more is meant than is expressed. It is bad, wrong, so to do. read more
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Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 17:17
17. A friend… brother The critics differ as to the sense of the latter part of this verse. One interpretation is: A brother, according to the ties and interests of consanguinity, is born to support and comfort a brother in distress, (so Clarke, Stuart, Conant, etc.;) that is, in distress a blood relation is in general more to be relied upon than any other friend. Another interpretation is: A true friend (the same as mentioned in a preceding clause) is as a born brother in adversity; that... read more