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 city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 9:16 word by word

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

• So I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• is betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• thanמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• strengthגְּבוּרָהgebûrâh · mightH1369
• of the poorמִסְכֵּןmiskên · poorH4542
• is despisedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• and his wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• are not heededשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:16

• Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
• Proverbs 21:22A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
• Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power.
• Proverbs 10:15The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
• Mark 6:2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?
• John 7:47The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you?
• John 9:24So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
• James 2:2For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty 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