Pro 18:24

[Tessie Webb]

The word ra'a' is translated as "must show himself friendly" but is in the 'hithpolel' sense per Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon and means "broken, to be broken in pieces, broken asunder". Can anyone tell me why this is so?

 

[Tessie Webb]

The word ra'a' is translated as "must show himself friendly" but is in the 'hithpolel' sense per Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon and means "broken, to be broken in pieces, broken asunder". Can anyone tell me why this is so?

found t hat some other translations include the sense of ruin, ie the Lexam English Bible translates it as "A man of (many) friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

 

[B-A-C]

I think that's the answer. It's talking about two kinds of people here.

Proverbs 18:24
(AMPC) The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(ESV) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(GNB) Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.
(GW) Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.
(KJV) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
(MKJV) A man who has friends may be broken up, but there is a Lover who sticks closer than a brother.
(MSG) Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
(NAS77) A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(NASB) A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(NIrV) Even a man who has many companions can be destroyed. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(NLT) There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

This verse seems to be saying a very close friend is better than many shallow friends.