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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:16

14There 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. 15Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. 17The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of 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

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 destroys much good.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
• Proverbs 21:22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
• Proverbs 24:5The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
• Proverbs 10:15The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
• Mark 6:2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
• John 7:47“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.
• John 9:24A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
• James 2:2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

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