Ecclesiastes 7:19
in Ecclesiastes 7Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
KJV
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 7
Commentary
13 notes on this verseWisdom strengtheneth the wise,.... Against such extremes as before mentioned; it is a guard about him, as well as a guide unto him; it is a defence unto him, as before observed, Ecc 7:12; and is better than strength of body, or weapons of war, Ecc 9:16; and a wise man does greater things by it than a strong man with them, and is safer with it than he can be by them.
This site's exposition
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger
on Ecclesiastes 7:19-22
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city. The admission follows at once: there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. The counsel not to heed every word that is spoken guards against a servant's curse overheard.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
The inhabited world arises in no other way than in the wisdom of God. For "wisdom gives strength to the wise beyond ten rulers who live in the city." "And the one who despises wisdom and instruction is miserable, and his hope empty, and his labors unprofitable, and his works useless," says the Book of Wisdom ascribed to Solomon. Hence insofar as possible, since the inhabited world is set aright in the wisdom of God, let us ourselves desire that our inhabited world, which perhaps has fallen, be set aright. For this inhabited world has fallen whenever we went to the place of affliction. This inhabited world has fallen whenever "we sinned, did wrong, acted wickedly," and it has need of being set aright.
Perhaps a person possesses no bread to extend as an alms to the needy, but still greater is what a person who has a tongue is able to give. It is more important to refresh a mind that will live forever with the food of …
Look for the might of a general in his wisdom rather than in the size of his troops.… If a city has many mighty men but lacks wisdom, these cannot help the city. In a spiritual exegesis the world is called city, that is, the …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Likewise, the fruit of wisdom is born of the last four by contrast. Corresponding to this fruit, there are four acts, for wisdom is comforting, struggling, contemplating, and extolling. It comforts the good: "Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Wisdom descends from above as a light to strengthen our operative power. "Wisdom has strengthened the wise man more than ten princes of the city." No sub-celestial power, neither earthly nor human, nor celestial or angelic, strengthens the soul as much as super-celestial wisdom. Whence …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The second reason is the dignity of the just, on account of which he says: "Wisdom has strengthened the wise man above ten princes of the city"; and so, Wisdom 6, "wisdom is better than strength, and a prudent man is better than a strong …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), so that they are not put into any disorder by it. They consider that those they have dealings and conversation with are not incarnate angels, but sinful sons and daughters of Adam: even the best are so, insomuch that there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Those that are truly wise and good are taken under God's protection, and are safer there than if ten of the mightiest men in the city, men of the greatest power and interest, should undertake to secure them, and become their patrons.
In short, the best way to save ourselves from the vexation which the vanity of the world creates us is to keep our temper and to maintain a strict government of our passions. He laments his own iniquity, as that which was more vexatious than any of these vanities, that mystery of iniquity, the having of many wives, by which he was drawn away from God and his duty,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise - One wise, thoroughly learned, and scientific man, may be of more use in fortifying and defending a city, than ten princes. Witness the case of Syracuse, when attacked by the Romans both by sea and land. Archimedes, by his engines, burnt and dashed their fleet to pieces, and destroyed all that came near the walls. And had not the city been betrayed and he killed, all their force and skill could not have taken it.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Hebrew, "The wisdom," that is, the true wisdom, religion (2Ti 3:15). than ten mighty--that is, able and valiant generals (Ec 7:12; These "watchmen wake in vain, except the Lord keep the city" (Ps 127:1).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה | hachakhemah | <the> wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| תָּעֹ֣ז | taoz | it gives strength | H5810 → | |
| לֶחָכָ֑ם | lechakham | to the wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ | measarah | more than ten | H6235 → | |
| שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים | shalitim | rulers | H7989 → | 4 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הָי֖וּ | hayu | they are | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בָּעִֽיר׃ | bair | in the city | H5892 → | 1090 times |
הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה<the> wisdom
hachakhemahH2451 →153 times
תָּעֹ֣זit gives strength
taozH5810 →
לֶחָכָ֑םto the wise [person]
lechakhamH2450 →138 times
מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙more than ten
measarahH6235 →
שַׁלִּיטִ֔יםrulers
shalitimH7989 →4 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הָי֖וּthey are
hayuH1961 →3559 times
בָּעִֽיר׃in the city
bairH5892 →1090 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Proverbs 8:14
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
- Proverbs 21:22
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
- Psalms 84:7
They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion.
- Colossians 1:11
Through
Proverbs 21:22A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
it leads to
- Proverbs 24:5
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
- Ecclesiastes 9:13–18
I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:
- 2 Samuel 20:16–22
a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
- Proverbs 24:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 8:5; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES 219:8; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 8:1.3.