Ecclesiastes 9:17
in Ecclesiastes 9The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
KJV
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 9
Commentary
8 notes on this verse"The gentle words of the wise are heard above the shouts of a king over fools. "Whosoever you see in the Church declaiming and arousing applause by whatever refinery or charm, he who shakes off his laughter and incites the crowd to feigned happiness, know that this is a sign of foolishness, equally of him who speaks, and of those who listen to him. For the words of the wise are heard in peace and respectful silence.
This site's exposition
The calm words of the wise are heeded
on Ecclesiastes 9:17-18
The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools answers the poor man's neglect. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, yet the last clause refuses a tidy ending, one sinner destroys much good. Wisdom's advantage is real and open to undoing.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
And that the words of the wise man are to be heard, he adds: "The words of the wise are heard in silence," that is, they are worthy to be heard in silence. Ecclesiasticus 32: "Listen in silence, and for your reverence good grace shall …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
The words of wise men are heard in quiet,....
A few close arguments are worth a great many big words; and those will strike sail to fair reasoning who will answer those that hector and insult according to their folly. How forcible are right words! What is spoken wisely should be spoken calmly, and then it will be heard in quiet and calmly considered.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The words of wise men are heard in quiet - In the tumult of war the words of Archimedes were not heard; and his life was lost.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ec 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ec 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth--as the "great king" (Ec 9:14).
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דִּבְרֵ֣י | divrei | [the] words of | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| חֲכָמִ֔ים | chakhamim | wise [people] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| בְּנַ֖חַת | benachat | in quietness | H5183 → | 7 times |
| נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים | nishmaim | [are] heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת | mizaakat | more than [the] cry of | H2201 → | |
| מוֹשֵׁ֖ל | moshel | a ruler | H4910 → | |
| בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃ | bakesilim | among <the> fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
דִּבְרֵ֣י[the] words of
divreiH1697 →1440 times
חֲכָמִ֔יםwise [people]
chakhamimH2450 →138 times
בְּנַ֖חַתin quietness
benachatH5183 →7 times
נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים[are] heard
nishmaimH8085 →1159 times
מִזַּעֲקַ֥תmore than [the] cry of
mizaakatH2201 →
מוֹשֵׁ֖לa ruler
moshelH4910 →
בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃among <the> fools
bakesilimH3684 →70 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
James 1:20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- James 3:17–18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Numbers 20:11–12
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
Through
Isaiah 42:2He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets.
it leads to
- Matthew 12:16–20
warning them not to make Him known.
- Matthew 12:16–20
Through
Proverbs 28:23He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
it leads to
- Proverbs 27:5–6
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
- Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Psalms 141:5
Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds…
- Proverbs 27:5–6
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.