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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:19 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Co 1:19	Strong Concordance	For [1063] it is written [1125], I will destroy [622] the wisdom [4678] of the wise [4680], and [2532] will bring to nothing [114] the understanding [4907] of the prudent [4908].
	King James	For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
I will destroy--slightly altered from the Septuagint, Isa 29:14. The Hebrew is, "The wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Paul by inspiration gives the sense of the Spirit, by making GOD the cause of their wisdom perishing, &c., "I will destroy," &c. understanding of the prudent--literally, "of the understanding ones."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

I will destroy--slightly altered from the Septuagint, Isa 29:14. The Hebrew is, "The wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Paul by inspiration gives the sense of the Spirit, by making GOD the cause of their wisdom perishing, &c., "I will destroy," &c.

understanding of the prudent--literally, "of the understanding ones."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For it is written - This passage is quoted from Isa 29:14. The Hebrew of the passage, as rendered in the English version is, "the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." The version of the Septuagint is, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the prudent I will hide" κρύψω krupsō, corresponding substantially with the quotation by Paul. The sense in the Hebrew is not materially different. The meaning of the passage as used by Isaiah is, that such was the iniquity and stupidity of "Ariel" Isa 29:1, that is, Jerusalem, that God would so execute his judgments as to confound their wise men, and overwhelm those who boasted of their understanding. Those in whom they had confided, and on whom they relied, should appear to be bereft of their wisdom; and they should be made conscious of their own lack of counsel to meet and remove the impending calamities. The apostle does not affirm that this passage in Isaiah refers to the times of the gospel. The contrary is manifestly true. But it expresses a general principle of the divine administration - "that the coming forth of God is often such as to confound human prudence; in a manner which human wisdom would not have devised; and in such a way as to show that he is not dependent on the wisdom of man." As such, the sentiment is applicable to the gospel; and expresses just the idea which the apostle wished to convey - that the wisdom of the wise should be confounded by the plan of God; and the schemes of human devising be set at naught. I will destroy - That is, I will abolish; or will not be dependent on it; or will show that my plans are not derived from the counsels of people. The wisdom of the wise - The professed wisdom of philosophers. And will bring to nothing - Will show it to be of no value in this matter. The prudent - The people professing understanding; the sages of the world. We may remark: (1) That the plan of salvation was not the contrivance of human wisdom. (2) it is "unlike" what people have themselves devised as systems of religion. It did not occur to the ancient philosophers; nor has it occurred to the modern. (3) it may be expected to excite the opposition, the contempt, and the scorn of the wise people of this world; and the gospel makes its way usually, not with their friendship, but in the face of their opposition. (4) its success is such as to confound and perplex them. They despise it, and they see not its secret power; they witness its effects, but are unable to account for them. It has always been a question with philosophers why the gospel met with such success; and the various accounts which have been given of it by its enemies, show how much they have been embarrassed. The most elaborate part of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," is contained in his attempt to state the causes of the early propagation of Christianity, in Co1 15:16; and the obvious failure of the account shows how much the mind of the philosophic sceptic was embarrassed by the fact of the spread of Christianity. (5) the reception of the gospel demands an humble mind; Mar 10:15. People of good sense, of humble hearts, of childlike temper, embrace it; and they see its beauty, and are won by its loveliness, and controlled by its power. They give themselves to it; and find that it is suited to save their souls. (6) in this, Christianity is like all science. The discoveries in science are such as to confound the wise in their own conceits, and overthrow the opinions of the prudent, just as much as the gospel does, and thus show that both are from the same God - the God who delights to pour such a flood of truth on the mind as to overwhelm it in admiration of himself, and with the conviction of its own littleness. The profoundest theories in science, and the most subtle speculations of people of genius, in regard to the causes of things, are often overthrown by a few simple discoveries - and discoveries which are at first despised as much as the gospel is. The invention of the telescope by Galileo was to the theories of philosophers and astronomers, what the revelation of the gospel was to the systems of ancient learning, and the deductions of human wisdom. The one confounded the world as much as the other; and both were at first equally the object of opposition or contempt.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For it is written - This passage is quoted from Isa 29:14. The Hebrew of the passage, as rendered in the English version is, "the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." The version of the Septuagint is, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the prudent I will hide" κρύψω krupsō, corresponding substantially with the quotation by Paul. The sense in the Hebrew is not materially different. The meaning of the passage as used by Isaiah is, that such was the iniquity and stupidity of "Ariel" Isa 29:1, that is, Jerusalem, that God would so execute his judgments as to confound their wise men, and overwhelm those who boasted of their understanding. Those in whom they had confided, and on whom they relied, should appear to be bereft of their wisdom; and they should be made conscious of their own lack of counsel to meet and remove the impending calamities. The apostle does not affirm that this passage in Isaiah refers to the times of the gospel. The contrary is manifestly true. But it expresses a general principle of the divine administration - "that the coming forth of God is often such as to confound human prudence; in a manner which human wisdom would not have devised; and in such a way as to show that he is not dependent on the wisdom of man." As such, the sentiment is applicable to the gospel; and expresses just the idea which the apostle wished to convey - that the wisdom of the wise should be confounded by the plan of God; and the schemes of human devising be set at naught.

I will destroy - That is, I will abolish; or will not be dependent on it; or will show that my plans are not derived from the counsels of people.

The wisdom of the wise - The professed wisdom of philosophers.

And will bring to nothing - Will show it to be of no value in this matter.

The prudent - The people professing understanding; the sages of the world. We may remark:

(1) That the plan of salvation was not the contrivance of human wisdom.

(2) it is "unlike" what people have themselves devised as systems of religion. It did not occur to the ancient philosophers; nor has it occurred to the modern.

(3) it may be expected to excite the opposition, the contempt, and the scorn of the wise people of this world; and the gospel makes its way usually, not with their friendship, but in the face of their opposition.

(4) its success is such as to confound and perplex them. They despise it, and they see not its secret power; they witness its effects, but are unable to account for them. It has always been a question with philosophers why the gospel met with such success; and the various accounts which have been given of it by its enemies, show how much they have been embarrassed. The most elaborate part of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," is contained in his attempt to state the causes of the early propagation of Christianity, in Co1 15:16; and the obvious failure of the account shows how much the mind of the philosophic sceptic was embarrassed by the fact of the spread of Christianity.

(5) the reception of the gospel demands an humble mind; Mar 10:15. People of good sense, of humble hearts, of childlike temper, embrace it; and they see its beauty, and are won by its loveliness, and controlled by its power. They give themselves to it; and find that it is suited to save their souls.

(6) in this, Christianity is like all science. The discoveries in science are such as to confound the wise in their own conceits, and overthrow the opinions of the prudent, just as much as the gospel does, and thus show that both are from the same God - the God who delights to pour such a flood of truth on the mind as to overwhelm it in admiration of himself, and with the conviction of its own littleness. The profoundest theories in science, and the most subtle speculations of people of genius, in regard to the causes of things, are often overthrown by a few simple discoveries - and discoveries which are at first despised as much as the gospel is. The invention of the telescope by Galileo was to the theories of philosophers and astronomers, what the revelation of the gospel was to the systems of ancient learning, and the deductions of human wisdom. The one confounded the world as much as the other; and both were at first equally the object of opposition or contempt.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
I will destroy, etc. Cited literally from the Septuagint, Isa 29:14, except that the Septuagint has κρύψω I will conceal, instead of I will reject. The Hebrew reads: "The wisdom of its (Judah's) wise men shall perish, and the sagacity of its sagacious men shall hide itself." Wisdom - prudence (σοφίαν - σύνεσιν) The two words are often found together, as Exo 31:3; Deu 4:6; Col 1:9. Compare σοφοὶ καὶ συνετοί wise and prudent, Mat 11:25. For the distinction, see, as to σοφία wisdom, on Rom 11:33; as to σύνεσις prudence, on Mar 12:33; Luk 2:47. Wisdom is the more general; mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense. Prudence is the special application of wisdom; its critical adjustment to particular cases. Will bring to nothing (ἀθετήσω) See on Luk 7:30. Originally, to make disestablished (ἄθετον) something which is established or prescribed (θετόν) Hence to nullify, make void, frustrate, and, in a milder sense, to despise or reject, as Gal 2:21. The stronger sense is better here, so that Rev., reject is not an improvement on the A.V. The American revisers render: And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For it is written - And the words are remarkably applicable to this great event. Isa 29:14

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For it is written - The place referred to is Isa 29:14. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise - Των σοφων, Of wise men - of the philosophers who in their investigations seek nothing less than God, and whose highest discoveries amount to nothing in comparison of the grand truths relative to God, the invisible world, and the true end of man, which the Gospel has brought to light. Let me add, that the very discoveries which are really useful have been made by men who feared God, and conscientiously credited Divine revelation: witness Newton, Boyle, Pascal, and many others. But all the skeptics and deists, by their schemes of natural religion and morality, have not been able to save one soul! No sinner has ever been converted from the error of his ways by their preaching or writings.

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¹⁴ Therefore, behold, I will proceed [03254] to do a marvellous work [06381] among this people [05971], even a marvellous work [06381] and a wonder [06382]: for the wisdom [02451] of their wise [02450] men shall perish [06], and the understanding [0998] of their prudent [0995] men shall be hid [05641].

¹⁵ Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Whosoever [3739] shall [1209] not [3362] receive [1209] the kingdom [932] of God [2316] as [5613] a little child [3813], he shall [1525] not [3364] enter [1525] therein [1519] [846].

¹⁶ For [1063] if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756], then is [1453] not [3761] Christ [5547] raised [1453]:

¹ Woe [01945] to Ariel [0740], to Ariel [0740], the city [07151] where David [01732] dwelt [02583] ! add [05595] ye year [08141] to year [08141]; let them kill [05362] sacrifices [02282].

²¹ I do [114] not [3756] frustrate [114] the grace [5485] of God [2316]: for [1063] if [1487] righteousness [1343] come by [1223] the law [3551], then [686] Christ [5547] is dead [599] in vain [1432].

³⁰ But [1161] the Pharisees [5330] and [2532] lawyers [3544] rejected [114] the counsel [1012] of God [2316] against [1519] themselves [1438], being [907] not [3361] baptized [907] of [5259] him [846].

⁴⁷ And [1161] all [3956] that heard [191] him [846] were astonished [1839] at [1909] his [846] understanding [4907] and [2532] answers [612].

³³ And [2532] to love [25] him [846] with [1537] all [3650] the heart [2588], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the understanding [4907], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the soul [5590], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the strength [2479], and [2532] to love [25] his neighbour [4139] as [5613] himself [1438], is [2076] more [4119] than all [3956] whole burnt offerings [3646] and [2532] sacrifices [2378].

³³ O [5599] the depth [899] of the riches [4149] both [2532] of the wisdom [4678] and [2532] knowledge [1108] of God [2316]! how [5613] unsearchable [419] are his [846] judgments [2917], and [2532] his [846] ways [3598] past finding out [421]!

²⁵ At [1722] that [1565] time [2540] Jesus [2424] answered [611] and said [2036], I thank [1843] thee [4671], O Father [3962], Lord [2962] of heaven [3772] and [2532] earth [1093], because [3754] thou hast hid [613] these things [5023] from [575] the wise [4680] and [2532] prudent [4908], and [2532] hast revealed [601] them [846] unto babes [3516].

⁹ For [1223] this cause [5124] we [2249] also [2532], since [575] the [3739] day [2250] we heard [191] it, do [3973] not [3756] cease [3973] to pray [4336] for [5228] you [5216], and [2532] to desire [154] that [2443] ye might be filled [4137] with the knowledge [1922] of his [846] will [2307] in [1722] all [3956] wisdom [4678] and [2532] spiritual [4152] understanding [4907];

⁶ Keep [08104] therefore and do [06213] them; for this is your wisdom [02451] and your understanding [0998] in the sight [05869] of the nations [05971], which shall hear [08085] all these statutes [02706], and say [0559], Surely this great [01419] nation [01471] is a wise [02450] and understanding [0995] people [05971].

³ And I have filled [04390] him with the spirit [07307] of God [0430], in wisdom [02451], and in understanding [08394], and in knowledge [01847], and in all manner of workmanship [04399],