Ecclesiastes 9:15

Ecclesiastes 9:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
• New International Version (NIV)Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:15

13I saw something else that happens on the earth. It is a good example of what wisdom is like. 14There was a small city and only a few people lived in it. A powerful king came to attack that city. His army made their camp around the city. They built heaps of earth all around it. There was a man who lived in the city. He was poor but he was also wise. Because he was wise, he knew how to save the city. But after he saved it, nobody remembered that poor man. 16So I realized that wisdom is better than power. But if you are poor, nobody accepts that you are also wise. People soon forget what you said. 17A wise person speaks quietly. But it is good to listen carefully to him. His words have more value than a king who is shouting to a crowd of fools.

Ecclesiastes 9:15 word by word

וּמָ֣צָא בָ֗הּ אִ֤ישׁ מִסְכֵּן֙ חָכָ֔ם וּמִלַּט־ה֥וּא אֶת־הָעִ֖יר בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ וְאָדָם֙ לֹ֣א זָכַ֔ר אֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן הַהּֽוּא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now there was foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• in it a poorמִסְכֵּןmiskên · poorH4542
• wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and he by his wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• deliveredמָלַטmâlaţ · to escapeH4422
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• yet no manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• rememberedזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:15

• Genesis 40:23But the cupbearer did not think about Joseph at all. He completely forgot about him.
• Esther 6:2The history book included a report of how two of the king's eunuchs wanted to kill King Xerxes. Their names were Bigthana and Teresh. The report said that Mordecai had told the king about this.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:15

• 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. 13-18This poor man's wise action was effective. Wisdom is better than power, strength, or weapons (see Ecclesiastes 4:13; 7:9, 19; 10:4). However, deserving people are not always honored, and even wise individuals are sometimes forgotten (see Ecclesiastes 2:16; 4:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1514-15. (2Sa 20:16-22). bulwarks--military works of besiegers.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:15

• Ingratitude
• Poor
• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Poor
• Synagogue, the Great
• Wisdom

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