Kohelet 9:18

18 Chochmah is better than weapons of war, but one choteh destroyeth much good.

Kohelet 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war
And does what they cannot do; of which the wisdom of the poor wise man is a full proof, which delivered the city from a potent prince, when weapons of war could not: see ( Ecclesiastes 7:10 ) ; but one sinner destroyeth much good:
his own soul by his sins, and the souls of others by his counsels, example, and conversation, which corrupt good manners; so does one sinner in a family, neighbourhood, and town; as one poor wise man does much good, one sinner mars much; one Achan in a camp or army, one bad counsel for in a cabinet, one false teacher in the church, will do a great deal of mischief, as well as one debauchee in a town or city. The Vulgate Latin version is, "who sins in one"; offends or sins in one, as in ( James 2:10 ) ; so the Syriac version, "one sin destroys much good", or many good things; and to the same purpose the Arabic version, "he that committeth one sin".

Kohelet 9:18 In-Context

16 Then said I, Chochmah is better than gevurah (strength); nevertheless the poor man’s chochmah is despised, and his devarim are not heard.
17 Divrei chachamim in quiet are more to be heeded than the shouting of the moshel (one ruling) among kesilim.
18 Chochmah is better than weapons of war, but one choteh destroyeth much good.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.