Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a general audience immediately after contrasting the quiet influence of wise counsel with the loud commands of a foolish ruler.
The words — חָכְמָה (chokh.mah) = wisdom, and יְאַבֵּ֥ד (ye.'a.Bed) = he will destroy.
The thread — The pattern of a single transgression undoing collective effort runs through Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:5, and Joshua 7:11.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers value prudent counsel over military force and recognize how one moral failure can erase substantial progress.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Cross-references
- Joshua 7:1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.
- Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
- Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
- Ecclesiastes 9:16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
- 2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
- 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- 2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
- Titus 1:10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
- Joshua 22:20 Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”
- 1 Samuel 14:28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”