Ecclesiastes 9:16

Ecclesiastes 9:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
• New International Version (NIV)So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:16

14There 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. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said. 17One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

Ecclesiastes 9:16 word by word

וְאָמַ֣רְתִּי אָ֔נִי טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִגְּבוּרָ֑ה וְחָכְמַ֤ת הַמִּסְכֵּן֙ בְּזוּיָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֖יו אֵינָ֥ם נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I, Wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than strengthגְּבוּרָהgebûrâh · mightH1369
• nevertheless the poor man’sמִסְכֵּןmiskên · poorH4542
• despisedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• and his wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• are not heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:16

• Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom will help a wise person more than ten rulers can help a city.
• Proverbs 21:22A wise man attacks a city of warriors and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.
• Proverbs 24:5A strong man knows how to use his strength, but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.
• Proverbs 10:15The rich person’s wealth is ⌞his⌟ strong city. Poverty ruins the poor.
• Mark 6:2When the day of rest—a holy day, came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, “Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles?
• John 7:47The Pharisees asked the temple guards, “Have you been deceived too?
• John 9:24So once again the Jews called the man who had been blind. They told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes.
• James 2:2For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard - I cannot help pursuing this illustration a little farther. The soldier who found Archimedes busily employed in drawing figures upon the sand, put to him some impertinent question, withal rudely obtruding himself on his operations. To whom this wonderful mathematician replied, "Stand off, soldier, and do not spoil my diagram;" on which the bloody savage struck him dead!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. 1616. Resuming the sentiment (Ec 7:19; Pr 21:22; 24:5). poor man's wisdom is despised--not the poor man mentioned in Ec 9:15; for his wisdom could not have saved the city, had "his words not been heard"; but poor men in general. So Paul (Ac 27:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:16

• Ingratitude
• Poor
• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• 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