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.
• 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 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. 17Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is 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 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.
• Joshua 7:1But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.
• Joshua 22:20Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”
• 1 Samuel 14:28But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
• 2 Samuel 20:1There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant: “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:8Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
• 2 Timothy 2:16Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
• 2 Timothy 3:8These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.
• 2 Timothy 4:3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
• Hebrews 12:15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting 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