The Meaning of Proverbs 17:17 Explained

Proverbs 17:17

KJV: A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

YLT: At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

Darby: The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

ASV: A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A friend  loveth  at all times,  and a brother  is born  for adversity. 

What does Proverbs 17:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:17 mean?

At all times loves a friend and a brother for adversity is born
בְּכָל־ עֵ֭ת אֹהֵ֣ב הָרֵ֑עַ וְאָ֥ח לְ֝צָרָ֗ה יִוָּלֵֽד

בְּכָל־  At  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֵ֭ת  times 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
אֹהֵ֣ב  loves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
הָרֵ֑עַ  a  friend 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
וְאָ֥ח  and  a  brother 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לְ֝צָרָ֗ה  for  adversity 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
יִוָּלֵֽד  is  born 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.