A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother offended, [ nipshaa` (H6586 ) - offended by the defection or transgression of his brother; or else, having been deserted by his brother] (is harder to be won than) a strong city. Maurer avoids the ellipsis by translating, 'A brother is more vehemently refractory (resists more violently) than a strong city.' But the niphal or passive conjugation more favours the English version. Tacitus, 'Hist.' 4: 15, 'The hatreds of those nearest of kin are generally the fiercest.' And (their) contentions (are) like the bars of a castle - harder to be broken than those of humble buildings. Brothers' quarrels preclude an avenue to reconciliation. The closer the tie, the greater the alienation when the tie has been snapt asunder. The greatest love, when wounded, turns to the greatest hatred. A wrong from a brother seems the more bitter as one thinks the highest benefits due from a brother, and expects them. It adds to the rancour that the mutual faults of one another are better known by brothers. Plutarch counts among 'impossibilities' a true and solid reconciliation of offended brothers. But cf. Luke 18:27.