Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Ver. 17. Iron sharpeneth iron.] One edge tool sharpeneth another; so doth the face of a man his friend. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith Seneca. Let us "whet one another to love and good works," saith Paul, Heb 10:24 as boars whet their tusks, as mowers whet their scythes. Thus Paul was "pressed in spirit" by the coming of Timothy, Act 18:5 and extimulates Timothy to "stir up (αναζωπυρειν) the gift of God that was in him." 2Ti 1:6 Thus Peter roused up (διεγειρειν) those to whom he wrote, ex veterno torporis et teporis, out of their spiritual lethargy. 1Pe 1:13 And thus those good souls "spake often one to another," for mutual quickening in dull and dead times. Mal 3:16-17 See Trapp on " Mal 3:16 " See Trapp on " Mal 3:17 " As amber grease is nothing so sweet in itself as when compounded with other things; so godly and learned men are gainers by communicating themselves to others. Conference hath incredible profit in all sciences. Castalio renders this text thus: Ut ferrum ferro, sic heroines alii aliis coniuguntur; As iron is to iron, so are men joined and soldered to one another, - viz., in a very straight bond of love and friendship.