Manly

(Pro 27:17 KJV)  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Sometime in the past year I was in a discussion with a group of men where this verse came up.  Someone expressed the view that this applied to all.  While I would agree that the principle is universal I had to point out that this is one of the places in scripture where the word “man” (376) is actually specific and not a generic interpolation.  

Often in translation the scholars insert the word “man” when it is not in the original language.  For some reason they feel this clarifies the meaning.  Part of their thinking is the patriarchal mindset that the feminists like to ridicule.  Part of it is the arrogance that comes with educated people thinking they can say it better than God.  Part may be a genuine attempt to get at the principle.

Here the word is present.  That means this is specifically directed toward men.

So?  As men we need to be reminded that we are not John Wayne or Cincinnatus.  We have a need to run our opinions by other men who can hone off the brads and nooks.  We can make it to heaven without it but the sharpening will make us better servants.