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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 9:15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/21_Ecc_09_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 9:15 - Wisdom is Better than Strength" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. 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But nobody remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he provided <i>a way of</i> escape for the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he rescued the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But the city was saved by the wisdom of a poor person who was soon forgotten. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A poor, wise person was found in that town. He saved the town using his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor person.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Someone lived there who was poor, but so clever that he could have saved the town. But no one thought about him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and there has been found in it a poor wise man, and he has delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And a poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom; and not a man remembered that poor man.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And there was found within it, a poor and wise man, and he freed the city through his wisdom, and nothing was recorded afterward of that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But in the city lived a man who, though poor, was wise, and he delivered it through his wisdom. Yet no one remembered this poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And a poor wise man was found in it and that poor man delivered the city by his wisdom, and no person remembered that poor man<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city through his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=1803" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Wisdom is Better than Strength</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4542.htm" title="4542: mis·kên (Adj-ms) -- Poor. From cikluwth; indigent.">Now a poor</a> <a href="/hebrew/2450.htm" title="2450: ḥā·ḵām (Adj-ms) -- Wise. From chakam; wise.">wise</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">man</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: ū·mā·ṣā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To attain to, find. ">was found</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">in the city,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">and he</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4422.htm" title="4422: ū·mil·laṭ- (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. to escape; causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks.">saved</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/2451.htm" title="2451: bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Wisdom. From chakam; wisdom.">by his wisdom.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Yet no</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: wə·’ā·ḏām (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/2142.htm" title="2142: zā·ḵar (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- Remember. A primitive root; properly, to mark, i.e. To remember; by implication, to mention; also to be male.">remembered</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hū (Art:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/4542.htm" title="4542: ham·mis·kên (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Poor. From cikluwth; indigent.">poor</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: hā·’îš (Art:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">man.</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/21-22.htm">Proverbs 21:22</a></span><br />A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27-29</a></span><br />But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-2.htm">Judges 7:2-7</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ / Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained. / Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/12-9.htm">2 Corinthians 12:9-10</a></span><br />But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-49.htm">1 Samuel 17:49-50</a></span><br />Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. / Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-25.htm">Matthew 11:25</a></span><br />At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/5-1.htm">2 Kings 5:1-3</a></span><br />Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-52.htm">Luke 1:52</a></span><br />He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-7.htm">1 Kings 3:7-9</a></span><br />And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. / Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. / Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-5.htm">James 2:5</a></span><br />Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/20-16.htm">2 Samuel 20:16-22</a></span><br />a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.” / When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered. / Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-42.htm">Mark 12:42-44</a></span><br />Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. / Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. / For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-23.htm">Jeremiah 9:23-24</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-13.htm">Acts 4:13</a></span><br />When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Isaiah 53:2-3</a></span><br />He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">yet</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/40-23.htm">Genesis 40:23</a></b></br> Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/esther/6-2.htm">Esther 6:2,3</a></b></br> And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-14.htm">City</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-26.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-29.htm">Found</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-13.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-5.htm">Memory</a> <a href="/proverbs/12-9.htm">Nobody</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-8.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-16.htm">Remembered</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-8.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-18.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-13.htm">Wisdom</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-13.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/10-15.htm">City</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-4.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/songs/3-1.htm">Found</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-6.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-20.htm">Memory</a> <a href="/isaiah/16-10.htm">Nobody</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-16.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-10.htm">Remembered</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/isaiah/25-9.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-16.htm">Wisdom</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-17.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-1.htm">like things happen to good and bad</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-4.htm">there is a necessity of death unto men</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-7.htm">Comfort is all their portion in this life</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">God's providence rules over all</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-13.htm">wisdom is better than strength</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now a poor wise man was found in the city</b><br>This phrase introduces a paradoxical figure: a man who is both poor and wise. In biblical times, wisdom was often associated with wealth and status, as seen in figures like Solomon. However, this man's poverty highlights the theme of Ecclesiastes that earthly status does not equate to true value or wisdom. The city, likely a small fortified town, represents a community in need, emphasizing the man's significance despite his lowly status. This reflects the biblical principle that God often uses the humble and lowly to accomplish His purposes, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27</a>.<p><b>and he saved the city by his wisdom</b><br>The man's wisdom, not his wealth or power, is the means of salvation for the city. This echoes the biblical theme that true wisdom comes from God and can lead to deliverance, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/2-6.htm">Proverbs 2:6-7</a>. The deliverance of the city can be seen as a type of Christ, who, though humble and rejected, brings salvation through divine wisdom. This also connects to the story of Joseph, who saved Egypt through God-given wisdom despite his initial low status.<p><b>Yet no one remembered that poor man</b><br>This phrase underscores the fleeting nature of human gratitude and recognition. Despite his significant contribution, the man's poverty leads to his being forgotten, illustrating the vanity and temporality of human accolades, a central theme in Ecclesiastes. This forgetfulness can be compared to the rejection and forgetfulness of Christ by many, despite His ultimate sacrifice and wisdom. It also serves as a reminder of the biblical teaching that our reward is not in earthly recognition but in eternal life with God, as seen in <a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-21</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_poor_wise_man.htm">The Poor Wise Man</a></b><br>A central figure in this verse, representing wisdom and humility. Despite his significant contribution, he remains unrecognized and forgotten.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_city.htm">The City</a></b><br>Represents a community or society that benefits from wisdom but often overlooks the source of that wisdom due to superficial judgments based on wealth or status.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_salvation.htm">The Event of Salvation</a></b><br>The act of saving the city signifies the power and value of wisdom, even when it comes from unexpected or undervalued sources.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_wisdom_over_wealth.htm">The Value of Wisdom Over Wealth</a></b><br>True wisdom is invaluable and can lead to salvation and deliverance, even when it comes from those who are materially poor.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_tendency_to_overlook_the_humble.htm">The Tendency to Overlook the Humble</a></b><br>Society often overlooks those who lack wealth or status, yet God frequently uses the humble to accomplish His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_impermanence_of_human_recognition.htm">The Impermanence of Human Recognition</a></b><br>Earthly recognition is fleeting. Our focus should be on pleasing God and using our gifts for His glory, rather than seeking human accolades.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_recognize_and_value_wisdom.htm">The Call to Recognize and Value Wisdom</a></b><br>As believers, we should strive to recognize and value wisdom in others, regardless of their social or economic status.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_humility_in_service.htm">The Importance of Humility in Service</a></b><br>Serving with humility, like the poor wise man, aligns with Christ's example and teachings, emphasizing the importance of serving others selflessly.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_life_advice_does_proverbs_give.htm">What wisdom and guidance does Proverbs offer for life?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_of_wisdom_in_ecclesiastes.htm">Ecclesiastes 8:5 states that the wise person knows when and how to act; is there archaeological or historical evidence supporting such definite wisdom teachings in this era?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_use_personification_over_concrete_proof.htm">Proverbs 9:13-18 presents Folly as another woman calling out to the naive. Why rely on personification instead of providing concrete historical or scientific validations for these moral teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_folly.htm">What does the Bible say about foolishness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> <span class="cmt_word">- Now there was found in it a poor wise man.</span> 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 <span class="accented">"poor"</span> in this passage is <span class="accented">misken</span>, for which see note on Ecclesiastes 4:13. <span class="cmt_word">He by his wisdom delivered the city</span>. When the besieged city had neither soldiers nor arms to defend itself against its mighty enemies, the man of poor estate, hitherto unknown or little regarded, came forward, and by wise counsel relieved his countrymen from their perilous situation. How this was done we are left to conjecture. It may have been by some timely concessions or negotiations; or by the surrender of a chief offender as at Abel-Beth-maachah; or by the assassination of a general, as at Bethulia (Jud. 13:8); or by the clever application of mechanical arts, as at Syracuse, under the direction of Archimedes (Livy, 24:34; Plutarch, 'Marcell.,' 15-18.). Yet no man remembered that same poor man. As soon as the exigence which brought him forward was past, the poor man fell back into his insignificance, and was thought of no more; he gained no personal advantage, by his wisdom; his ungrateful countrymen forgot his very existence. Thus Joseph was treated by the chief butler (<a href="/genesis/40-23.htm">Genesis 40:23</a>). Classical readers will think of Coriolanus, Scipio Africanus, Themistocles, Miltiades, who for their services to the state were rewarded with calumny, false accusation, obloquy, and banishment. The author of the Book of Wisdom gives a different and ideal experience. "I," he says, "for the sake of wisdom shall have estimation among the multitude, and honor with the elders, though I be young.... By the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial" (Wisd. 8:10-13). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now a poor</span><br /><span class="heb">מִסְכֵּן֙</span> <span class="translit">(mis·kên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4542.htm">Strong's 4542: </a> </span><span class="str2">Indigent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wise</span><br /><span class="heb">חָכָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·ḵām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2450.htm">Strong's 2450: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">man</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֤ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was found</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמָ֣צָא</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mā·ṣā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in [the city],</span><br /><span class="heb">בָ֗הּ</span> <span class="translit">(ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">and he</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֥וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saved</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמִלַּט־</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mil·laṭ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4422.htm">Strong's 4422: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the city</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעִ֖יר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by his wisdom.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2451.htm">Strong's 2451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wisdom</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Yet no</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָדָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">remembered</span><br /><span class="heb">זָכַ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(zā·ḵar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2142.htm">Strong's 2142: </a> </span><span class="str2">To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהּֽוּא׃‪‬‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">poor</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mis·kên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4542.htm">Strong's 4542: </a> </span><span class="str2">Indigent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">man.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאִ֥ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-15.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:15 Now a poor wise man was found (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 9:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 9:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 9:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 9:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>