A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
Parallel Translations
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A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
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A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
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A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Cross-references (8)
Passages linked to Proverbs 24:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
- Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
- Proverbs 21:22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
- Psalms 84:7 They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion.
- Proverbs 8:14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
- Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
- Proverbs 10:29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
- Ecclesiastes 9:14-18 There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. 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. Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 24:5 A wise man [is] strong; yea, a…
Pro 24:5 A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Ver. 5. A wise man is strong.] {See Trapp on "Pro 21:22"}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Is strong; is courageous and resolute, and able by…
Is strong; is courageous and resolute, and able by wisdom to do greater things than others can accomplish by their own strength.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war,....…
For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war,.... Counsel, as well as strength, is necessary for war: kings and states, before they enter on a war, should not only well consider the justness of their cause, but should consult whether they have a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and should concert the wisest methods to attack the enemy, or defend themselves; and, above all, should ask counsel of God; see Kg2 18:20. And this is true of our spiritual warfare with sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers; which requires not only strength to wage war with them, but wise counsel, that we may be able to understand and guard against their cunning, wiles, and stratagems: and this is principally to be asked of God, who is wonderful in counsel; and of good and experienced men, skilled in those matters;
and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety; to take the advice of wise counsellors, and many of them, even among men, is safe for princes and states, in the above case and in all others; and especially to ask and take counsel of God, who gives wisdom liberally to them that ask it; and of Christ, the wonderful Counsellor; and from the Scriptures, whom David made his counsellors; and from old experienced Christians, and ministers of the word, with whom are wisdom, counsel, and understanding; See Gill on Pro 11:14.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Is strong - Is courageous and resolute, and able…
Is strong - Is courageous and resolute, and able by wisdom to do greater things than others can accomplish by strength.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 5. A wise man is strong.] His wisdom…
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 labour 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's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Is strong - literally, as in the margin; i.…
Is strong - literally, as in the margin; i. e., rooted and established in strength.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Valiant, as well as a good economist, ver. 4.…
Valiant, as well as a good economist, ver. 4. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain The general statement (Ecc 9:16, Ecc 9:18) is specially…
The general statement (Ecc 9:16, Ecc 9:18) is specially illustrated (compare Pro 21:22; Psa 144:1).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 5. A wise man is strong — Powerful —…
5. A wise man is strong — Powerful — “Knowledge is power.” If physical strength is defective, it supplies the defects; and whatever be the strength, skill and dexterity will greatly add thereto. Machines, which are the product of knowledge, have greatly increased the power of man. Wisdom gives influence.
Increaseth strength — Makes firm, confirms. Comp. Pro_2:14; Job_19:19; Ecc_9:14; Ecc_9:16.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 5. strong] Lit. in strength, A.V. and R.V. marg.…
5. strong] Lit. in strength, A.V. and R.V. marg. Comp.
The voice of Jehovah is in might;
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The voice of Jehovah is in majesty. Psa_29:4.
“The expression is more forcible than if adjectives denoting these qualities (‘mighty,’ ‘majestic’) had been used. Comp. ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ, Luk_4:32; ἐν ἰσχύϊ (rec.), Rev_18:2.”—Bp Perowne.
increaseth strength] Lit., as in margin A.V. and R.V., strengtheneth might.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (5) A man of knowledge increaseth strength.—For the spiritual…
(5) A man of knowledge increaseth strength.—For the spiritual sense, comp. 2Pe_3:18.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Vers. 5, 6. Wisdom is beneficial in peace and…
Vers. 5, 6. Wisdom is beneficial in peace and war.
A wise man is strong. zwb, "in strength," full of strength, because, however feeble in body, he is wise in counsel, firm in purpose, brave in conduct, thoroughly to be depended upon, and supported by his perfect trust in God. (comp. Pro_21:22) The Septuagint, with which agree the Syriac and Chaldee, reading differently, renders, "A wise man is better than a strong man a sentiment which Lesetre compares to Cicoro"s "cedant arma togae." A man of knowledge increaseth strength; literally, strengtheneth power; shows greater, superior power, as Amo_2:14. The Septuagint, from some corruption of the text, renders, "And a man having prudence (is better) than a large estate (gewrgiou megalou );" i.e. wisdom will bring a man more worldly advantages than the possession of extensive farms. The gnome is proved by what follows.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain A wise man is strong; yea, a man of…
Pro_24:5
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength
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Wisdom the strength of the mind
The changes of life often have unhappy effects on the temper of our minds.
A defence against these evils would be very desirable. Who would not possess a constant equanimity, an uniform peace and steady resolution of soul? Solomon says this is to be gained through wisdom, or religious virtue.
I. The diseased and feeble state of mind against which wisdom is the proper remedy. It seemeth to consist in an indisposition for the due exercise of its powers. The body is then distempered and weak, and so the mind is rendered incapable of the offices which become such a being. The weakness principally appeareth in the prevalence of passions which are excited by them, and are summed up in aversion; that is, in the prevalence of fear and sorrow and anger. Reason and moral conscience is the man; in its vigour and authority over the inferior springs of action our strength lieth.
1. Fear is an infirmity natural to man, which very often hath pernicious effects, and in itself, abstracting from its effects, is very uncomfortable. Every living creature, according to its measure of perfection, hath a self-enjoyment, and findeth ease and satisfaction in its sound and healthy state. But it was wisely provided that such of them as are liable to dangers and annoyances from abroad should have a painful apprehension of them, in order to their being put upon the speediest methods for avoiding them. This is the end of fear in their constitution. Man is made with a larger comprehension, and with the privilege of foresight, by which he discovereth a variety of dangers, and seeth them at a great distance; and this certainly was not originally intended to be his torment, but, if it be so in event, it must be by way of penal infliction for his faults, or a distemper of his mind against which there is a proper remedy provided.
2. Grief. This is not equal in all men. Some spirits can sustain their infirmity better than others. But all find it requires a force above that of mere unimproved and uncultivated nature to support it. It requireth religious wisdom.
3. Anger. Felt when the disagreeable event is considered an injury, and as befalling us by the injustice or ill-will of a voluntary agent. Now consider the symptoms of this natural weakness. During the prevalence of these passions the understanding is obscured; at least, we have not the due use of it. It seems to be the natural tendency of pain to arrest the thoughts. The counsels of the mind are at such times full of perplexity, which often produce irresolution, instability, and fatal precipitation.
II. Wherein the strength of the wise man lieth. How wisdom, or religious virtue, is the cure of our weakness and its symptoms.
1. It is a defence against fear, because it represents uncomfortable events as too inconsiderable to affect our main interests. The good man is satisfied from himself; his integrity is his chief treasure. Virtue is a greater good than riches, worldly honours, and carnal pleasure.
2. The testimony of our conscience is an effectual preservative against immoderate dejecting fears, as it gives us confidence towards God and assurance of His favour.
3. The wise man is strong against fear, because his confidence is in the Divine all-sufficiency, love, and faithfulness. Chance and necessity, as the cause of events, are the refuge of ignorant minds. Faith controls the fears of a religious mind, for it represents an intelligent, powerful, and gracious Providence as superintending all affairs and directing all events irresistibly.
4. The wise man is strengthened by the Christian hope of immortality. The same principles and sentiments restrain immoderate anger. So religious wisdom delivers us from the symptoms of weakness arising from the passions; ignorance and confusion; the darkened understanding. True wisdom openeth the eyes. There is an admirable simplicity in religion. A man of knowledge increaseth strength against irresolution, unsteadiness, and precipitancy; his behaviour is consistent and uniform, because it is conducted by one invariable principle. The wise and virtuous perform their good works with vigour and alacrity. And this spiritual strength is ever increasing, and a constant source of pleasure to the man himself. Then let us examine ourselves, and try what equanimity we maintain in the changes of life. (J. Abernethy, M.A.)
Fixed religious principles
A wise man is strong. That is, a true man; one who fears God. We shall seek to show the infinite importance of fixed principles
I. In relation to the duties of life.
II. In regard to the relationships of life.
III. In relation to the trials of life.
IV. As a safeguard against the Temptations of life. (F. Wagstaff.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 5. A wise man is strong, full of…
v. 5. A wise man is strong, full of strength, exerting a powerful influence; yea, a man of knowledge, one making use of proper circumspection and caution, increaseth strength, develops and extends his influence, makes use of his power in the proper manner.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
These verses continue the "thirty sayings" (Proverbs 22:20).
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warrior of wisdom
The abstract noun "wisdom" can be translated as "wise." AT: "wise warrior" (See: Abstract Nouns)
a man of knowledge increases his strength
The abstract nouns "knowledge" and "strength" can be translated as the verb "know" and the adjective "strong." AT: "a man who knows many things is stronger because he knows these things" (See: Abstract Nouns)
by wise direction
The abstract noun "direction" can be translated as a verb. AT: "if you have wise people telling you what to do" (See: Abstract Nouns)
wage your war
"fight your war"
advisors
those who tell government officials what those officials should do
translationWords
know
wise
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 24:5-6 Saying 21: See 21:22.
24:5-6 Saying 21: See 21:22.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.