God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:18
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is 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
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. 17One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:18 word by word
טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:18
- Ecclesiastes 9:16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said.
- Joshua 7:1The people of Israel proved to be disloyal about the things claimed by the Lord. Achan, son of Carmi, grandson of Zabdi, great-grandson of Zerah, and a member of the tribe of Judah, took something that had been claimed by the Lord. So the Lord became angry with the people of Israel.
- Joshua 22:20Didn’t Achan, son of Zerah, act faithlessly with the things claimed by the Lord? Didn’t the Lord become angry with the whole congregation of Israel? Achan wasn’t the only one who died because of his sin.”
- 1 Samuel 14:28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the troops to take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’ ” Now, the army was exhausted.
- 2 Samuel 20:1A good-for-nothing man by the name of Sheba, Bichri’s son, from the tribe of Benjamin happened to be at Gilgal. He blew a ram’s horn ⌞to announce⌟, “We have no share in David’s kingdom. We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son. Everyone to his own tent, Israel!”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8Then the man of sin will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will destroy him by what he says. When the Lord Jesus comes, his appearance will put an end to this man.
- 2 Timothy 2:16Avoid pointless discussions. People who ⌞pay attention to these pointless discussions⌟ will become more ungodly,
- 2 Timothy 3:8As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupt, and the faith they teach is counterfeit.
- 2 Timothy 4:3A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
- Hebrews 12:15Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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