Proverbs 21:22

Proverbs 21:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
• New International Version (NIV)One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Context of Proverbs 21:22

20There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it. 21He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness, and honor. A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23He who guards his mouth and his tongue Guards himself from troubles. 24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.

Proverbs 21:22 word by word

עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• scalethעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• of the mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• and casteth downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• the strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
• of the confidenceמִבְטָחmibţâch · confidenceH4009

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:22

• 2 Samuel 20:16Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Tell Joab, ‘Come here so that I may speak to you.’ ”
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
• Ecclesiastes 9:13This [illustration of] wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and great it was to me:

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty - Wisdom is in many respects preferable to strength, even in the case of defense. See what skill does in the fortification and reduction of strong places.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Even in war, counsel does more than brute strength. So of the warfare which is carried on in the inner battlefield of the soul. There also wisdom is mighty to the “pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, where Paul uses the very words of the Septuagint Version of this passage), and the wise man scales and keeps the city which the strong man armed has seized and made his own.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22Verse 22 Those that have wisdom, often do great things, even against those confident of their strength.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22A smart military planner can find ways to beat stronger armies. This shows that wisdom is better than just strength (compare Ecclesiastes 7:12; 9:13–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. "Wisdom is better than strength" (Ec 7:19; 9:15). strength ... thereof--that in which they confide.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:22

• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Confidence
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Siege

Commentaries on Proverbs 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings