Pro 18:19 | NET2full | STEP | A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city , and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel .

‏ Proverbs 18:19

19 A relative ^{▼▼tn Heb “brother,” but this is not limited to actual siblings (cf. NRSV “an ally”; CEV, NLT “friend”).} offended ^{▼▼tn The Niphal participle from פָּשַׁע (pashaʿ) modifies “brother”: a brother transgressed, offended, sinned against.} is harder to reach than ^{▼▼tc The LXX has a clear antithetical proverb here: “A brother helped is like a stronghold, but disputes are like bars of a citadel.” Accordingly, the editors of BHS propose מוֹשִׁיעַ (moshiaʿ) instead of נִפְשָׁע (nifshaʿ, so also the other versions and the RSV). But since both lines use the comparison with a citadel (fortified/barred), the antithesis is problematic.} ^{▼▼tn The phrase “is harder to reach” is supplied in the translation on the basis of the comparative מִן (min). It is difficult to get into a fortified city; it is more difficult to reach an offended brother.} a strong city,
and disputes are like the barred gates ^{▼▼tn Heb “bars,” but this could be understood to mean “taverns,” so “barred gates” is employed in the translation.} of a fortified citadel. ^{▼▼sn The proverb is talking about changing a friend or a relative into an enemy by abuse or strife—the bars go up, as it were. And the “walls” that are erected are not easily torn down.}