Read & explore together
Wisdom Is Better than Strength
This passage shares an example the Teacher says he has seen "under the sun". It compares strength, weapons, noise, poverty and wisdom, then shows a sad truth: wisdom can do great good and still be ignored.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In these verses, the speaker presents a wisdom saying through a brief example about a small city under threat. The passage itself focuses on the value of wisdom, the weakness of human recognition, and the damage one sinner can cause. It stays within reflection and dialogue rather than giving a full historical report.
Ecclesiastes 9:13–18Main takeaway
This passage teaches that wisdom is better than strength and weapons, even though wise words may be overlooked and much good can still be damaged by one sinner.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A wisdom example that seemed greatThe speaker introduces something he has seen "under the sun" and says it seemed great. That tells us this is offered as a striking example about life in the world.
Explanation
The speaker introduces something he has seen "under the sun" and says it seemed great. That tells us this is offered as a striking example about life in the world. The focus is not on naming people or places, but on what the example teaches about wisdom.
02A small city facing great dangerThe example describes a little city with few men in it. A great king comes against it, besieges it, and builds great bulwarks against it.
Explanation
The example describes a little city with few men in it. A great king comes against it, besieges it, and builds great bulwarks against it. The contrast is strong: little against great, few against a king. Humanly speaking, the city appears weak and vulnerable.
03A poor wise man delivers, but is forgottenA poor wise man is found in the city, and by his wisdom he delivers it. The passage does not explain how, only that wisdom brought rescue.
Explanation
A poor wise man is found in the city, and by his wisdom he delivers it. The passage does not explain how, only that wisdom brought rescue. Yet the same man is not remembered. The text joins two truths: wisdom can achieve much, and people may fail to honour it.
04Quiet wisdom is better than noisy powerThe speaker draws the lesson plainly: wisdom is better than strength. He adds that the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
Explanation
The speaker draws the lesson plainly: wisdom is better than strength. He adds that the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. Then he says words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of one who rules among fools. Wisdom does not need loudness to be better.
05Better than weapons, yet vulnerable to sinThe passage ends by saying wisdom is better than weapons of war. Wisdom is shown as more valuable than force.
Explanation
The passage ends by saying wisdom is better than weapons of war. Wisdom is shown as more valuable than force. Yet the final line is sobering: one sinner destroys much good. Good can be real and still be damaged, so the text holds both the worth of wisdom and the seriousness of sin together.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What contrasts in the example help show the value of wisdom?
Notice the little city and few men, the great king and bulwarks, then the poor wise man whose wisdom delivers the city.
02What is sad about the way the poor wise man is treated?
The text says he delivered the city, yet no man remembered him, and his wisdom was despised and not heard.
03How does verse 17 compare wise words with loud rule?
It says words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 9:13–18
13I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.
14There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
15Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.