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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 9:16 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 9:16 |
King James |
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Resuming the sentiment (Ecc 7:19; Pro 21:22; Pro 24:5).
poor man's wisdom is despised--not the poor man mentioned in Ecc 9:15; for his wisdom could not have saved the city, had "his words not been heard"; but poor men in general. So Paul (Act 27:11). |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
"And I said: Better is wisdom than strength; but the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard." With the words, "I saw," the author introduces his observations, and with "I said" his reflections. Wisdom is better than strength, since it does more for the wise man, and through him for others, than physical force, - more, as expressed in Ecc 7:19, than ten mighty men. But the respect which wisdom otherwise secures for a man, if it is the wisdom of a poor man, sinks into despect, to which his poverty exposes him, - if necessity arises, his service, as the above history shows, is valued; but as a rule his words are unheeded, for the crowd estimate the worth of him whom they willingly hear according to the outward respect in which he is held.
To the lessons gathered from experience, are now added instructive proverbs of kindred contents. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| The 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! |
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.