Ecclesiastes 9:18

Ecclesiastes 9:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:18

16So 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. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 9:18 word by word

טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than weaponsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• of warקְרָבqerâb · battleH7128
• but oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• sinnerחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• destroyethאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
• muchרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:18

• Ecclesiastes 9:16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
• Joshua 7:1But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
• Joshua 22:20When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’ ”
• 1 Samuel 14:28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
• 2 Samuel 20:1Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
• 2 Timothy 2:16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
• 2 Timothy 3:8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
• Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

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

• Company
• 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