Darby Bible
Ecclesiastes 9:18
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Ecclesiastes 9:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
- New International Version (NIV)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”
Context of Ecclesiastes 9:18
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:18 word by word
טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:18
- Ecclesiastes 9:16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
- Joshua 7:1But the children of Israel committed unfaithfulness in that which had been brought under the curse: Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing; and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel.
- Joshua 22:20Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing? and wrath fell on all the assembly of Israel, and he perished not alone in his iniquity.
- 1 Samuel 14:28Then answered one of the people and said, Thy father strictly adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day; and the people are faint.
- 2 Samuel 20:1And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, Israel.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8and then the lawless one shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and shall annul by the appearing of his coming;
- 2 Timothy 2:16But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety,
- 2 Timothy 3:8Now in the same manner in which Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, thus these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, found worthless as regards the faith.
- 2 Timothy 4:3For the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching; but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear;
- Hebrews 12:15watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war - So proved in the case of Archimedes. But one sinner - Such as the Roman butcher above mentioned. Destroyeth much good - Such as were the life and skill of the Syracusan mathematician. One sinner has often injured the work of God; one stumbling-block has sometimes destroyed a revival of religion. Sin acts like a ferment; whatever comes in contact with it, it assimilates to itself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Sinner - The word in the original indicates intellectual as well as moral error.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18one sinner destroys...a little folly outweighs: A little foolishness can ruin things. Sin and foolishness can quickly undo much good.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. one sinner, &c.--(Jos 7:1, 11, 12). Though wisdom excels folly (Ec 9:16; 7:19), yet a "little folly (equivalent to sin) can destroy much good," both in himself (Ec 10:1; Jas 2:10) and in others. "Wisdom" must, from the antithesis to "sinner," mean religion. Thus typically, the "little city" may be applied to the Church (Lu 12:32; He 12:22); the great king to Satan (Joh 12:31); the despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ (Is 53:2, 3; Mr 6:3; 2Co 8:9; Ep…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 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
- 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
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