Ecclesiastes 9:14

Ecclesiastes 9:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
• New International Version (NIV)There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:14

12No one knows when his time will come. Like fish that are caught in a cruel net or birds caught in a snare, humans are trapped by a disaster when it suddenly strikes them. 13I also have seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it made a deep impression on me. There was a small town with a few soldiers in it, and a powerful king came to attack it. He surrounded it and blockaded it. 15A poor, wise person was found in that town. He saved the town using his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor person. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 word by word

עִ֣יר קְטַנָּ֔ה וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בָּ֖הּ מְעָ֑ט וּבָֽא־אֵלֶ֜יהָ מֶ֤לֶךְ גָּדוֹל֙ וְסָבַ֣ב אֹתָ֔הּ וּבָנָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מְצוֹדִ֥ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• a littleקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• and fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• within it; and there cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• against it, and besiegedסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
• it, and builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• bulwarksמָצוֹדmâtsôd metsôdâh metsôdâh · siegeworkH4685

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:14

• 2 Samuel 20:15Joab’s army came and attacked him in Abel (Beth Maacah). They put up a dirt ramp against the city, and it stood level with the outer wall. All the troops with Joab were trying to destroy the wall and tear it down.
• 2 Kings 6:24Later King Benhadad of Aram assembled his whole army. They went to Samaria and blockaded it.
• 2 Kings 7:1Elisha answered, “Listen to the Lord’s word! This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow 24 cups of the best flour will sell for half an ounce of silver in the gateway to Samaria. And 48 cups of barley will sell for half an ounce of silver.”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14There was a little city, and few men within it - Here is another proof of the vanity of sublunary things; the ingratitude of men, and the little compensation that genuine merit receives. The little history mentioned here may have either been a fact, or intended as an instructive fable. A little city, with few to defend it, being besieged by a great king and a powerful army, was delivered by the cunning and address on a poor wise man; and afterwards his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14A parable probably without foundation in fact. Critics who ascribe this book to a late age offer no better suggestion than that the “little city” may be Athens delivered 480 b.c. from the host of Xerxes through the wisdom of Themistocles, or Dora besieged 218 b.c. by Antiochus the Great. Ecclesiastes 9:16-17 are comments on the two facts - the deliverance of the city and its forgetfulness of him who delivered it - stated in Ecclesiastes 9:15.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. 14-1514-15. (2Sa 20:16-22). bulwarks--military works of besiegers.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:14

• Bulwark
• Ingratitude
• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Bulwark
• 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