Ecclesiastes 9:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (Eccl. 9:11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (Eccl. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war ,.... And does what they cannot do; of which the wisdom of the poor wise man is a full proof, which delivered the city from a potent prince, when weapons of war could not: see Ecclesiastes 7:10 ; but one sinner destroyeth much good : his own soul by his sins, and the souls of others by his counsels, example, and conversation, which corrupt good manners; so does one sinner in a family, neighbourhood, and town; as one poor wise man does much good,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:18

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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:17-18

Section 10. Here follow some proverbial sayings concerning wisdom and its opposite, which draw the moral from the story in the text. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war . Such is the moral which Koheleth desires to draw from the little narrative given above (see Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 ; and Ecclesiastes 7:19 ). Wisdom can do what no material force can effect, and often produces results which all the implements of war could not command. But one sinner destroyeth much good. The happy consequences which the wise man's counsel might accomplish, or has already accomplished, may be overthrown or rendered useless by the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:18

Sinner - The word in the original indicates intellectual as well as moral error. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20)A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. Riches, status and a show of power are the things people admire. If a person lacks these, he is ignored or despised, even though his quiet words of wisdom may save a city from destruction (13-18).One foolish act can spoil a lot of good. Stupidity leads to wrongdoing and marks a person out as a fool in the eyes of everyone... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:18

18. one sinner, c.— (Joshua 7:1 Joshua 7:11; Joshua 7:12). Though wisdom excels folly (Ecclesiastes 9:16; Ecclesiastes 7:19), yet a "little folly (equivalent to sin) can destroy much good," both in himself (Ecclesiastes 10:1; James 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 (Luke 12:32; Hebrews 12:22); the great king to Satan (John 12:31); the despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ (Isaiah... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

Live Worthily While You May1-3. The future is in God’s hands. Good and bad alike must die.1. Considered in] RV ’laid to.’ Declare] RV ’explore.’ No man.. before them] RV ’whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.’ Whether God’s dealings with them shall be such as to suggest His favour or displeasure is unknown, because the part of life not yet traversed cannot be penetrated. 2. There seems no discrimination in the lot of men.4. A living dog] Life has at any rate one... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

Ecclesiastes 9:2 It is verbally true, that in the sacred Scriptures it is written: As is the good, so is the sinner, and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath. A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, drink, and be merry, etc. But he who should repeat these words, and this assurance, to an ignorant man in the hour of his temptation, lingering at the door of an ale-house, or hesitating as to the testimony required of him in the court of justice, would, spite of this verbal... read more

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