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
4 notes on this verseon Jeremiah 9:23-24
(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 glory in his wisdom
on Jeremiah 9:23-24
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 names the three standard grounds of ancient boasting and refuses all three at once. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me states the alternative positively, knowledge of the Lord's own character, lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, as the only boast that holds. Paul draws on this verse's own wording at 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, carrying Jeremiah's refusal of self-made boasting into his own argument.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
on Jeremiah 9:23-24
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.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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.
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
1 study on this verse
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.