Sharpening Vs. Wielding

Iron Sharpeneth Iron — Or Do We Wield Each Other?

My day started with opening TikTok and seeing a post that read:

KJV Proverbs 27:17 — “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friends.”

At first, I didn’t quite understand what this meant. I knew the definitions of the words, but the deeper questions emerged:

Why “Countenance” Matters

One word in Proverbs 27:17 is often overlooked: countenance.

In the King James Version, the verse does not say that one person sharpens another’s ideas, skills, or arguments. It says a person sharpens the countenance of their friend.

Countenance is not simply a facial expression. Biblically, it refers to a person’s inner orientation made visible—the way the heart, mind, and spirit face the world. It is presence, bearing, and relational posture. To sharpen someone’s countenance is not to correct them, but to help them stand more clearly in who they are.

How do we actually live this as a society? 

Are we sharpening one another—or are we wielding each other for battle?

If we look closely at the difference between sharpen and wield, a powerful distinction appears. Sharpening is intentional. It requires constraint, care, patience, and time. Wielding, on the other hand, is about dominance—winning, overpowering, and inflicting damage.

Much of American society does not sharpen humans; it wields them.

We value performance over formation. Being right over being wise.Visibility over integrity.

We are constantly seeking reactions, validation, and outrage. This is why news media provokes emotion rather than understanding—it keeps us reactive, disconnected from our inner truth, and dependent on external affirmation. We become addicted to being seen, rather than to knowing who we are.

In many ways, we have been wielded and not sharpened. As more of us awaken to our inner selves, we start to make different choices. We become more discerning about who we allow to sharpen us. Not everyone is made of iron. Not everyone can offer refinement with patience, care, and restraint. Every sword is forged differently. If we allow patience—for ourselves and for each other—as a sword reveals both its perfections and imperfections, its true nature emerges. A sword shaped with care will fight with a different strength than one forced to resemble every other blade. Sharpening honors uniqueness. Wielding demands conformity, and perhaps wisdom lies in learning when to lay the weapon down—and instead, stand close enough to refine one another without harm.