Proverbs 18:19 (GNV)

Passage

A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a palace.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:17 He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.

Proverbs 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and maketh a partition among the mightie.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a palace.

Proverbs 18:20 With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of ye tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite thereof.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "brother", "offended", "harder", "winne", "strong", "citie", "contentions", and "like". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "brother" and "offended", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "The lot causeth contentions to cease and..." into verse 20's "With the fruite of a mans mouth...", so "brother" and "offended" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "brother" and "offended" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.