Ecclesiastes 7:20

"Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city."

Key Reflection

Ecclesiastes 7:20 highlights that true wisdom brings inner strength and authority far surpassing external power. In first-century Israel, a ruler's influence might come from holding official positions, yet the passage suggests that genuine wisdom grants a deeper, more enduring power—a point that resonates with the idea of internal virtue over mere external authority. This reflects Solomon’s broader message in Ecclesiastes about the transient nature of worldly success and the lasting value of wisdom and godly character.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The connection of this verse withEcclesiastes 7:18-19becomes clearer if it is borne in mind that the fear of God, wisdom, and justice, are merely different sides of one and the same character, the formation of which is the aim of all the precepts in this chapter. The words “just”Ecclesiastes 7:15,Ecclesiastes 7:20and “righteous”Ecclesiastes 7:16are exactly the same in Hebrew.

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