Proverbs 21:22

Proverbs 21:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
• New International Version (NIV)One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Context of Proverbs 21:22

20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling, but a foolish person devours all he has. 21Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, prosperity and honor. A wise person scales the city of warriors and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul out of troubles. 24A proud and haughty man —Mocker is his name— acts with overbearing pride.

Proverbs 21:22 word by word

עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• scalethעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• of the mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• and casteth downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• the strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
• of the confidenceמִבְטָחmibţâch · confidenceH4009

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:22

• 2 Samuel 20:16Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come over here that I may speak with him.”
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
• Ecclesiastes 9:13I also observed this as wisdom under the sun, and it greatly impressed me.

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty - Wisdom is in many respects preferable to strength, even in the case of defense. See what skill does in the fortification and reduction of strong places.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Even in war, counsel does more than brute strength. So of the warfare which is carried on in the inner battlefield of the soul. There also wisdom is mighty to the “pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, where Paul uses the very words of the Septuagint Version of this passage), and the wise man scales and keeps the city which the strong man armed has seized and made his own.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22Verse 22 Those that have wisdom, often do great things, even against those confident of their strength.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22A smart military planner can find ways to beat stronger armies. This shows that wisdom is better than just strength (compare Ecclesiastes 7:12; 9:13–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. "Wisdom is better than strength" (Ec 7:19; 9:15). strength ... thereof--that in which they confide.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:22

• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Confidence
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Siege

Commentaries on Proverbs 21

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings