The big picture
Proverbs 18 opens in verse 1 with “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”, and closes in verse 24 with “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh…” Repeated or prominent terms include man’s, mouth, brother, cometh, heart. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 24Proverbs 18:1-8
1–8: Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and…
Proverbs 18:1–8 opens with “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” and reaches “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 18 develops its own movement around man’s, mouth, brother, cometh, heart, with particular weight carried by mouth, cometh, fool’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” Naming Through keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 18:1-8
King James Version1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 18:9-16
9–16: He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great…
Proverbs 18:9–16 opens with “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” and reaches “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 18 develops its own movement around man’s, mouth, brother, cometh, heart, with particular weight carried by heart, knowledge, man’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brother, slothful, waster. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 18:9-16
King James Version9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:17-24
17–24: He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh…
Proverbs 18:17–24 opens with “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” and reaches “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 18 develops its own movement around man’s, mouth, brother, cometh, heart, with particular weight carried by brother, contentions, findeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, cometh, first. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bars, brother, castle. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 18:17-24
King James Version17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD .
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 18:1 begins with “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 18:14 forms a natural hinge: “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”
The final note
Proverbs 18:24 leaves the reader with “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words man’s, mouth, brother, cometh, heart, lips help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What responsibility accompanies Abraham's election?
Verse 19 connects his household's calling with keeping the Lord's way through justice and judgment.
What is the moral center of his intercession?
That righteous and wicked should not be treated indiscriminately.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.