“A brother helped is like a strong city”: Note that the footnote in Revised Standard Version says the Hebrew is uncertain and so the Revised Standard Version rendering is based on the ancient versions. The Hebrew text, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates as “C,” says literally “An offended brother from a fortified city.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands this to mean “is like a fortified city,” that is, he is not open or accessible. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating “An offended brother is more inaccessible than a fortified city.” We may reword this, for example, “A brother we have injured closes his doors to us” or “An offended brother keeps everyone away.”

“But quarreling is like the bars of a castle”: In this line the simile is well marked. “Quarreling” is compared with “bars” at the entrance of a “castle” that serve to keep people out. “Quarreling” sets up barriers between people so that they do not have access to each other. Bible en français courant translates the whole saying, without relying on the ancient versions, “An offended brother is more difficult to approach than a fortress. Disputes are as tough as the bars of a castle.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .