Ecclesiastes 9 · Verse 18

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Ecclesiastes 9:18, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 9:18 in other translations

BSBWisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
WEBWisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
ASVWisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
YLTBetter is wisdom than weapons of conflict, And one sinner destroyeth much good!
DARBYWisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
BBEWisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.
WebsterWisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

What does Ecclesiastes 9:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. one sinner, &c.--(Jos 7:1, 11, 12). Though wisdom excels folly (Ec 9:16; 7:19), yet a "little folly (equivalent to sin) can destroy much good," both in himself (Ec 10:1; Jas 2:10) and in others. "Wisdom" must, from the antithesis to "sinner," mean religion. Thus typically, the "little city" may be applied to the Church (Lu 12:32; He 12:22); the great king to Satan (Joh 12:31); the despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ (Is 53:2, 3; Mr 6:3; 2Co 8:9; Ep 1:7, 8; Col 2:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war - So proved in the case of Archimedes. But one sinner - Such as the Roman butcher above mentioned. Destroyeth much good - Such as were the life and skill of the Syracusan mathematician. One sinner has often injured the work of God; one stumbling-block has sometimes destroyed a revival of religion. Sin acts like a ferment; whatever comes in contact with it, it assimilates to itself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 →

Ecclesiastes 9:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

טוֹבָ֥הto.Vah[is] goodH2896
חָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
מִכְּלֵ֣יmi.ke.Leimore than weapons ofH3627
קְרָ֑בke.RavwarH7128
וְחוֹטֶ֣אve.cho.Te'and a sinnerH2398
אֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadoneH259
יְאַבֵּ֥דye.'a.Bedhe will destroyH6
טוֹבָ֥הto.VahgoodH2896
הַרְבֵּֽה\׃har.BehmuchH7235

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 9:18

  • Joshua 7:1

    But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

  • Joshua 7:11-12

    Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

  • Joshua 7:5

    And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

  • 2 Timothy 2:16-18

    But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:16

    Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • Titus 1:10-11

    For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

  • 2 Timothy 3:8

    Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

    And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: …

  • Hebrews 12:15-16

    Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

  • 1 Samuel 14:28-29

    Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

  • 2 Samuel 20:1-2

    And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
better.
16
sinner.
Jos 7:1,5,11,12; 22:20; 1Sa 14:28,29,36-46; 2Sa 20:1,2
2Th 2:8-12; 2Ti 2:16-18; 3:8; 4:3,4; Tit 1:10,11; Heb 12:15,16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:17

    The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:18

    Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mejor es la sabiduría que las armas de guerra; mas un pecador destruye mucho bien.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mieux vaut la sagesse, que les instruments de guerre, et un seul pécheur détruit beaucoup de bien.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Weisheit ist besser als Kriegsgeräte; aber ein Sünder vernichtet viel Gutes. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Melior est sapientia quam arma bellica; et qui in uno peccaverit, multa bona perdet.