Proverbs 24 · Verse 5

Proverbs 24:5

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Proverbs 24:5, King James Version

Proverbs 24:5 in other translations

BSBA wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
WEBA wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
ASVA wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
YLTMighty is the wise in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,
DARBYA wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
BBEA wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.
WebsterA wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

What does Proverbs 24:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:5-6
5-6. The general statement (Ec 9:16, 18) is specially illustrated (compare Pr 21:22; Psa 144:1).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 A wise man is strong - His wisdom enables him to construct a great variety of machines, by which, under his own influence, he can do the labor of a hundred or even a thousand men. But in all cases wisdom gives power and influence; and he who is wise to salvation can overcome even Satan himself. The Septuagint has: "The wise is better than the strong; and the man who has prudence, than a stout husbandman."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 24:3-6

Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 24:3-6 →

Proverbs 24:5 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.

גֶּֽבֶר\־ge.ver-a manH1397
חָכָ֥םcha.KhamwiseH2450
בַּע֑וֹזba.'oz[who is] in <the> strengthH5797
וְאִֽישׁ\־ve.'ish-and a person ofH376
דַּ֝֗עַתDa.'atknowledgeH1847
מְאַמֶּץ\־me.'a.metz-[is] making firmH553
כֹּֽחַ\׃Ko.achstrengthH3581

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

Cross references for Proverbs 24:5

  • Ecclesiastes 7:19

    Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

  • Colossians 1:11

    Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

  • Isaiah 40:31

    But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

  • Proverbs 21:22

    A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

  • Proverbs 8:14

    Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

  • Psalms 84:7

    They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:14-18

    There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. …

  • Proverbs 10:29

    The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A wise.
8:14; 10:29; 21:22; Ec 7:19; 9:14-18
strong. Heb. in strength. increaseth strength. Heb.strengtheneth might.
Ps 84:7; Isa 40:31; Col 1:11

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

Context

  • Proverbs 24:4

    And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

  • Proverbs 24:5

    A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

  • Proverbs 24:6

    For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Read all of Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El hombre sabio es fuerte; y de pujante vigor el hombre docto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’homme sage a de la force, et l’homme de connaissance affermit sa puissance;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein weiser Mann ist stark, und ein Mann von Erkenntnis befestigt seine Kraft.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vir sapiens fortis est, et vir doctus robustus et validus: