Ecclesiastes 9:17

Ecclesiastes 9:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
• New International Version (NIV)The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:17

15There 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. A 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. 18Wisdom is better than weapons that are used to fight a war. But one bad person can destroy many good things.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 word by word

דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• in quietנַ֫חַתnachath · quietnessH5183
• more than the cryזְעָקָהza‛aq ze‛âqâh · outcryH2201
• of him that rulethמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• among foolsכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:17

• Genesis 41:33Now Pharaoh should look for a clever man. He should look for a man who knows what is right and wrong. Tell him to rule over the land of Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 7:3Then Samuel said to all the Israelite people, ‘If you truly want to turn back to the Lord, you must show that you mean it. You must remove all your foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. You must give your lives completely to the Lord. You must worship only the Lord. If you do that, he will save you from the power of the Philistines.’
• Proverbs 28:23If you warn someone that he has done a wrong thing, he will thank you in the end. He will like you more than if you only say sweet words to him.
• Isaiah 42:2He will not cry out. He will not shout. He will not speak loudly in the streets.
• James 1:20God wants us to do what is right. But when someone is angry, they do not do those right things.
• James 3:17But if God makes you really wise, you will live in a completely good way. That is the most important thing. Also, you will live in a way that brings peace. You will be kind to other people so that they become your friends. You will listen to them and not argue. You will forgive them and do many good things to help them. You will not choose between people. And you will not be a hypocrite.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The words of wise men are heard in quiet - In the tumult of war the words of Archimedes were not heard; and his life was lost.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. 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. 1717. The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ec 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ec 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth--as the "great king" (Ec 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (Ec 8:9).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:17

• Speaking
• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise men
• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Education
• Quiet
• Synagogue, the Great

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