Proverbs 24:6
in Proverbs 24Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
KJV
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
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This verse in Proverbs 24
Commentary
6 notes on this verseFor by wise counsel thou shall make thy war,.... Counsel, as well as strength, is necessary for war: kings and states, before they enter on a war, should not only well consider the justness of their cause, but should consult whether they have a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and should concert the wisest methods to attack the enemy, or defend themselves; and, above all, should ask counsel of God; see 2Ki 18:
This site's exposition
A wise man is strong
on Proverbs 24:5-6
"A wise man is strong" sets knowledge beside physical power and ranks it equal or higher. The next line applies the claim to warfare: "Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors." A plan improves under more than one mind.
This site's exposition
victory lies in a multitude of counselors
War needs counsel as much as strength. John Gill says kings should weigh the justice of their cause and whether they have men and money, and above all ask counsel of God. Sound guidance and many counselors are part of the wise man's strength in verse 5.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 24:6 · Written before 407.
proposed
[Solomon] calls war a matter full of disorder, a matter in need of many hands. Or, he may be warning us not to rush to war inconsiderately. Behold, he says, When a decision must be taken, is it not always beneficial to have wisdom in the middle of things?
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
By wise counsel thou shalt make thy war - See note on Pro 20:18.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בְ֭תַחְבֻּלוֹת | vetachbulot | by wise directions | H8458 → | 6 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂה־ | taaseh- | you will make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לְּךָ֣ | lekha | for yourself | ||
| מִלְחָמָ֑ה | milchamah | war | H4421 → | 320 times |
| וּ֝תְשׁוּעָ֗ה | uteshuah | and victory | H8668 → | 34 times |
| בְּרֹ֣ב | bero | [is] in a multitude of | H7230 → | 149 times |
| יוֹעֵֽץ׃ | yoetz | counselor[s] | H3289 → | 79 times |
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בְ֭תַחְבֻּלוֹתby wise directions
vetachbulotH8458 →6 times
תַּעֲשֶׂה־you will make
taaseh-H6213 →2628 times
לְּךָ֣for yourself
lekha
מִלְחָמָ֑הwar
milchamahH4421 →320 times
וּ֝תְשׁוּעָ֗הand victory
uteshuahH8668 →34 times
בְּרֹ֣ב[is] in a multitude of
beroH7230 →149 times
יוֹעֵֽץ׃counselor[s]
yoetzH3289 →79 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 15:22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:18
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 20:18
Through
Proverbs 11:14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- 1 Kings 12:1–19
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
- Proverbs 15:22
Through
Proverbs 20:18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
it leads to
- Luke 14:31
Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
- Judges 1:1–2
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Judges 20:18
The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
- Luke 14:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 24:6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.