Proverbs 18:19

19 A broken friendship is harder to deal with than a city that has high walls around it. And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city.

Proverbs 18:19 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:19

A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city,
&c.] A fortified city may sooner be taken by an enemy, than one brother offended can be reconciled to another; their resentments against each other are keener than against another person that has offended them; and their love being turned into hatred, it is more bitter; and it is more difficult to compose differences between brethren than between enemies; wherefore such should take care that they fall not out by the way: this is true of brethren in a natural sense; as the cases of Abel and Cain, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brethren, Amnon and Absalom, and others, show; and of brethren in a spiritual sense, as Paul and Barnabas, Luther and Calvin, and others; and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle:
which cannot be easily broken or cut asunder: so contentions, especially those among brethren, are with great difficulty made to cease, and their differences composed; they will stand it out against one another as long as a strong city, or a barred castle, against an enemy.

Proverbs 18:19 In-Context

17 The first one to tell his case seems right. Then someone else comes forward and questions him.

18 Casting lots will put a stop to arguing. It will keep the strongest enemies apart.

19 A broken friendship is harder to deal with than a city that has high walls around it. And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city.

20 A man can fill his stomach with what he says. The words from his lips can satisfy him.

21 Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.