Prepositions of Comparison: The Power of מִן and כְּ in Proverbs 18:19

אָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז וּמְדֹונִים כִּבְרִ֥יחַ אַרְמֹֽון׃

Proverbs 18:19 presents a striking image of broken trust: “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.” This comparison is grammatically anchored in two small but powerful prepositions: מִן (“more than”) and כְּ (“like”). These prepositions shape the entire logic and rhetorical force of the proverb.

Hebrew uses prepositions not only to describe relationships in space or time—but also to build similes, comparisons, and even superlatives. Let’s examine how this verse uses comparison syntax to craft an image of emotional and relational fortification.

Word-by-Word Morphology

1. אָ֗ח (ʾāḥ) –
   Root: א־ח;
   Form: masculine singular noun;
   Translation: “brother”;
   Notes: May refer to literal kin or metaphorically to a close companion.
2. נִפְשָׁ֥ע (nifshāʿ) –
   Root: פ־שׁ־ע;
   Form: Nifal participle masculine singular;
   Translation: “offended” or “wronged”;
   Notes: Passive-reflexive stem; implies being deeply wounded or rebelled against.
3. מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז (miqqiryat-ʿōz) –
   Root: ק־ר־ה (city), ע־ז־ז (strong);
   Form: preposition מִן + noun in construct;
   Translation: “than a strong city”;
   Notes: The comparative מִן marks the standard of comparison: “more unyielding than…”
4. וּמְדֹונִים (ūməḏōnīm) –
   Root: ד־ו־נ;
   Form: masculine plural noun with conjunction;
   Translation: “and quarrels”;
   Notes: Conveys ongoing strife or contentiousness.
5. כִּבְרִ֥יחַ (kivriyaḥ) –
   Root: ב־ר־ח;
   Form: preposition כְּ + noun;
   Translation: “like a bar”;
   Notes: כְּ introduces a simile. A בְרִיחַ is a locking bolt or bar securing a gate.
6. אַרְמֹֽון (armōn) –
   Root: א־ר־מ (possibly related to “citadel”);
   Form: masculine singular noun;
   Translation: “a fortress” or “palace”;
   Notes: Suggests a well-defended or fortified place.

Prepositions of Power: מִן and כְּ

Hebrew prepositions often carry more weight than their short forms suggest. Here’s how they function in this verse:

The contrast between מִן (than) and כְּ (like) shows how Hebrew creates both relative and metaphorical comparisons. One measures intensity; the other paints an image.

The Architecture of Offense

This proverb compares emotional and relational fracture to military fortification. The offended brother is less penetrable than a strong city, while strife is like a locking bar that keeps out reconciliation. The use of prepositions here doesn’t just mark relationships—it structures them. The syntax itself builds walls, gates, and bars around the concept of broken fellowship.

Through the concise grammar of comparison, the verse warns: injury to kin does not fade easily. It fortifies the heart like stone walls and iron bars. In Hebrew, even the smallest particles carry the weight of wisdom.