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 little city with a few people in it and a mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built great siege works against it. 15Now a poor, wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his shrewdness. Yet 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 not heeded. 17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than a ruler’s shout 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

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 a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
• Proverbs 21:22A wise person scales the city of warriors and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
• Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge becomes even stronger.
• Proverbs 10:15The wealth of a rich man is a strong city. Poverty is the ruin of the poor.
• Mark 6:2When Shabbat came, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many listeners were amazed, saying, “Where did this fellow get these things? What’s this wisdom given to Him? Such miracles are done by His hands!
• John 7:47The Pharisees responded, “You haven’t been led astray also, have you?
• John 9:24So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner!”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26For you see your calling, brothers and sisters, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well.
• James 2:2For if a man with a gold ring and fine clothes comes into your synagogue, and a poor person in filthy 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