Jeremiah 9:23
in Jeremiah 9This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;
KJV
Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
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This verse in Jeremiah 9
Commentary
16 notes on this verse(Verse 23, 24.) Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." All of humanity's pride is removed, as their wisdom, strength, and wealth are considered as nothing.
This site's exposition
Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom
on Jeremiah 9:23-24
The verse names the three usual grounds of boasting, wisdom, strength and riches, and refuses all three at once. The alternative is stated plainly, “let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me”. Paul draws on this wording at 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 10:19 · Written before 253.
proposed
"Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom or the strong person in his strength," for that which is worth boasting about is not ours but is the gift of God. The wisdom is from him, and the strength is from him and so with the rest.
The only true salvation is if Christ saves me, for then I will be saved. The horse is a false hope for deliverance. False also are all others besides God for salvation. On account of this I might say to him, "Save me, Lord, and I will be saved," and I say this if I can say also the next words after every boast that is renounced. For you are my boast or when I fulfill the commandment that says, "Let not the wise person boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong person boast in his strength, or the rich person in his riches; let him who boasts boast in this, to understand and know that I am Lord." Blessed is one who has renounced every boast here below, such as in so-called noble birth and in beauty and in corporeal things, in riches, in vainglory, since he is content with one boast, that he may say, For you are my boast.
No sensible person, then, will be proud of his wisdom or of possessing the other goods I have mentioned but will follow the excellent advice of blessed Anna and of the prophet Jeremiah: "Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong person glory in his strength, and let not the rich person glory in his riches." But what is true glory, and what makes a person great? "In this," says the prophet, "let him that glories, glory that he understands and knows that I am the Lord." This constitutes the highest dignity of humankind, this is his glory and greatness. Truly it is to know what is great and to cleave to it, and to seek after glory from the Lord of glory.
A commentator
Clement of RomeClement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13 · Written before 99.
proposed
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you." By this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word saith, "On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth at My words?"
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you."
9 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:10 · Written before 258.
proposed
We must trust in God only, and in him we must glory. In Jeremiah: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the strong man glory in his strength, nor let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who does mercy, and judgment, and righteousness upon the earth, because in them is my pleasure, says the Lord."
What is the philosophy that the apostle bids us shun? This, then, "the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God." "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." Let no one therefore glory on account of pre-eminence in human thought. For it is written well in Jeremiah, "Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty person glory in his might, and let not the rich person glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, that executes mercy and judgment and righteousness on the earth: for in these things is my delight, say the Lord."
The Medieval Church2 voices
"Each one looking not to his own interests but to those of others," "that one may not glory in his prudence," for the virtue of the humble is not to boast of their knowledge, since it is common to all. In repressing the mind's audacity, …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
If you glory in wisdom, by that very fact you lose wisdom. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength." And the cause of this is given in Ezekiel, where it is said: "You, …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Ahithophel was befooled, and counsellors are often led away spoiled. But, if a man's policies fail him, yet surely he may gain his point by might and dint of courage. No: Let not the strong man glory in his strength, for the battle is not always to the strong.
10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
To the end of Jer. 10 the prophet urges upon the people the practical conclusion to be drawn from God’s righteous dealings with them. The three things on which men most pride themselves are shown in this verse to have proved vain.
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom - Because God is the Fountain of all good, neither wisdom, nor might, nor riches, nor prosperity can come but from or through him. Nothing can be more rational than that the Source of all our blessings should be acknowledged. Riches cannot deliver in the day of death; strength cannot avail against him; and as a shield against him, our wisdom is foolishness.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כֹּ֣ה׀ | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַ֣ר | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל | yithalel | he boast | H1984 → | 165 times |
| חָכָם֙ | chakham | a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ | bechakhemato | in wisdom his | H2451 → | 153 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל | yithalel | he boast | H1984 → | 165 times |
| הַגִּבּ֖וֹר | hagibor | the mighty [person] | H1368 → | 158 times |
| בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ | bigvurato | in might his | H1369 → | 61 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל | yithalel | he boast | H1984 → | 165 times |
| עָשִׁ֖יר | ʾashir | a rich [person] | H6223 → | |
| בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃ | beashero | in rich[es] his | H6239 → |
כֹּ֣ה׀thus
kohH3541 →577 times
אָמַ֣רhe says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
יִתְהַלֵּ֤לhe boast
yithalelH1984 →165 times
חָכָם֙a wise [person]
chakhamH2450 →138 times
בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹin wisdom his
bechakhematoH2451 →153 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
יִתְהַלֵּ֥לhe boast
yithalelH1984 →165 times
הַגִּבּ֖וֹרthe mighty [person]
hagiborH1368 →158 times
בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹin might his
bigvuratoH1369 →61 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
יִתְהַלֵּ֥לhe boast
yithalelH1984 →165 times
עָשִׁ֖ירa rich [person]
ʾashirH6223 →
בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃in rich[es] his
beasheroH6239 →
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
Ecclesiastes 9:11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor…
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:30–31
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Lamentations 3:37–38
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Job 5:11–14
He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.
- Ecclesiastes 3:17
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
- Psalms 147:10–11
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.
- Proverbs 21:30–31
Through
Romans 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
it leads to
- Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19–21
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
- Proverbs 26:12
Through
Isaiah 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 3:18–20
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18–20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, HOMILY 20, ON HUMILITY; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9; Braulio of Zaragoza, LETTER 42; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; Clement of Rome, Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13; Clement of Rome, 1 CLEMENT 13; Cyprian, Treatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:10; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 10:19 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 17:5.