Proverbs 21:22

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Proverbs 21:21 NEXT Proverbs 21:23

Proverbs 21:22 in Other Translations

KJV

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

ESV

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

NLT

22 The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.

MSG

22 One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers - their trusted defenses fell to pieces!

CSB

22 The wise conquer a city of warriors and bring down its mighty fortress.

Proverbs 21:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:22

A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty
Which makes good what is elsewhere said, that "wisdom is better than strength", ( Ecclesiastes 9:16 ) ; and sometimes more is done by prudence and wisdom, by art and cunning, by schemes and stratagems, than by power and force; especially in military affairs, and particularly in besieging and taking fortified cities; when one wise man, by his wisdom, may so order and manage things, as to be able, with a few under his command, to mount the walls of a city and take it, though defended by a mighty garrison in it. This may be applied to, our Lord Jesus Christ entering into the city of a man's heart, possessed by the strong man armed; overcoming him, taking from him his armour, and dividing his spoil, ( Luke 11:21 Luke 11:22 ) ; compare with this ( Ecclesiastes 9:14 Ecclesiastes 9:15 ) ; and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof;
the strong walls, bulwarks, and such fortifications, in which the mighty in the city placed their confidence: and the like does Christ, when he enters into the heart of a sinner by his word and spirit; he destroys all its former strong confidences, and brings it into subjection to himself, ( 2 Corinthians 10:4 2 Corinthians 10:5 ) .