Ecclesiastes 9:15

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 9:15

Now there was found in it a poor wise man ,.... Christ, who is man, though not a mere man, but God as well as man; who was so in purpose, covenant, and promise, before his incarnation, since truly and really so; and "poor", as it was foretold he should be, and who became so for the sake of his church and people, Zechariah 9:9 ; yet "wise", even as man, being filled with wisdom, in which he increased, and gave such evident proofs of; on whom the spirit of wisdom rested, and in whom the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Section 9. That wisdom, even when it does good service, is not always rewarded, is shown by an example. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:15

Now there was found in it a poor wise man. The verb, regarded as impersonal, may be thus taken. Or we may continue the subject of the preceding verse and consider the king as spoken of: "He came across, met with unexpectedly, a poor man who was wise." So the Septuagint. The word for "poor" in this passage is misken, for which see note on Ecclesiastes 4:13 . He by his wisdom delivered the city . When the besieged city had neither soldiers nor arms to defend itself against its mighty... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:14-15

A parable probably without foundation in fact. Critics who ascribe this book to a late age offer no better suggestion than that the “little city” may be Athens delivered 480 b.c. from the host of Xerxes through the wisdom of Themistocles, or Dora besieged 218 b.c. by Antiochus the Great.Ecclesiastes 9:16-17 are comments on the two facts - the deliverance of the city and its forgetfulness of him who delivered it - stated in Ecclesiastes 9:15. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Ecclesiastes 9:13-16. This wisdom have I seen I have observed this among many other instances and effects of wisdom. Which he adds for the commendation of wisdom, notwithstanding its insufficiency for man’s safety and happiness without God’s blessing. And it seemed great unto me I judged it very praiseworthy, though others despised it, as it follows. There was a little city, &c. It is doubtful whether Solomon be here relating a certain fact which had occurred in some neighbouring... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:15

there was found = [some one] was found. poor = unfortunate. Hebrew. misken. See note on Proverbs 6:11 . poor wise. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "poor but wise". man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:15

Ecclesiastes 9:15. There was found in it a poor wise man— An experienced wise man; and so at the end of the verse. II. We have the second head in Ecclesiastes 9:13-15. Our expectations are not less liable to disappointment with respect to those advantages which are considered as infallible consequences of certain actions, without being directly intended by the person concerned, who may be supposed to have a nobler motive in his eye. This our author proves by a single instance, propounded in the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:15

15. poor—as to the temporal advantages of true wisdom, though it often saves others. It receives little reward from the world, which admires none save the rich and great. no man remembered— ( :-). read more

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