Jeremiah 9:23

Jeremiah 9:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
• New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

Context of Jeremiah 9:23

21For death has come up through our windows; It has entered our palaces, Cutting off the children from the streets And the young men from the town squares. 22Speak, “Thus says the Lord, ‘The dead bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, And like sheaves [of grain] behind the reaper, And no one will gather them.’ ” Thus says the Lord, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance; 24but let the one who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me [and acknowledges Me and honors Me as God and recognizes without any doubt], that I am the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” says the Lord. 25“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised [physically] and yet uncircumcised [spiritually]—

Jeremiah 9:23 word by word

כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Let not the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• gloryהָלַלhâlal · to shineH1984
• in his wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• neither let the mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• in his mightגְּבוּרָהgebûrâh · mightH1369
• let not the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• in his richesעֹ֫שֶׁר‛ôsher · richesH6239

Cross-references for Jeremiah 9:23

• Job 5:12He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.
• Psalms 49:10For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others.
• Ecclesiastes 2:13Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all.
• Isaiah 5:21Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever and shrewd in their own sight!
• Isaiah 10:12So when the Lord has completed all His work [of judgment] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit [the thoughts, the declarations, and the actions] of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the haughtiness of his pride.”
• Ezekiel 28:2“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because your heart is lifted up And you have said and thought, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods In the heart of the seas’; Yet you are [only] a man [weak, feeble, made of earth] and not God, Though you [imagine yourself to be more than mortal and] think your mind is as [wise as] the mind of God—
• Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
• 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written and forever remains written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers], And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise.
• James 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.
• Deuteronomy 8:17Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
• 1 Samuel 17:4Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
• 1 Kings 20:10Ben-hadad sent word to him and said, “May the gods do so to me, and more also, if there is enough dust left of Samaria for handfuls for all the [armed] people who follow me.”
• Psalms 33:16The king is not saved by the great size of his army; A warrior is not rescued by his great strength.
• Isaiah 10:8For Assyria says, “Are not my princes all kings?

Commentaries on Jeremiah 9:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom - Because God is the Fountain of all good, neither wisdom, nor might, nor riches, nor prosperity can come but from or through him. Nothing can be more rational than that the Source of all our blessings should be acknowledged. Riches cannot deliver in the day of death; strength cannot avail against him; and as a shield against him, our wisdom is foolishness.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23To the end of Jeremiah 10 the prophet urges upon the people the practical conclusion to be drawn from God‘s righteous dealings with them. The three things on which men most pride themselves are shown in this verse to have proved vain.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-26Verses 23-26 In this world of sin and sorrow, ending soon in death and judgement, how foolish for men to glory in their knowledge, health, strength, riches, or in any thing which leaves them under the dominion of sin and the wrath of God! and of which an account must hereafter be rendered; it will but increase their misery. Those are the true Israel who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Let us prize…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Intellectuals might brag about their knowledge. The king and his royal court might show off their power with grand ceremonies. Wealthy merchants might display their wealth by wearing fancy clothes and building impressive structures. All of these will be destroyed during God's judgment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. wisdom--political sagacity; as if it could rescue from the impending calamities. might--military prowess.Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 9:23

• Boasting
• Conceit
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Pride
• Rich, the
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Adulterer
• Arrow
• Desolate
• Heaven
• Perish
• Teach
• Wait
• Covenant, the New
• Glory

Commentaries on Jeremiah 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings