Ecclesiastes 9:15-16
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What's striking here is not just that the man's service was forgotten, but that his very existence faded away the moment the crisis passed. His wisdom was so potent it saved everyone, yet his poverty meant he "fell back into his insignificance," utterly overlooked as soon as his one remarkable deed was done.
But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrator, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of life and labor, describes a city under siege, facing imminent destruction. Though a poor, unknown man used his wisdom to save them, his crucial service was quickly forgotten, highlighting how wisdom and great deeds often go unrecognized and unrewarded by the world. This incident serves as a stark example of the vanity Solomon has been observing throughout the book.
In desperate times, intelligence and insight can achieve what brute force cannot. But what happens when the savior is overlooked?
Solomon highlights a stark reality: wisdom, especially when held by someone without worldly status, can be a city's ultimate defense. This poor, wise man, through his cleverness, averted disaster. His 'deliverance' wasn't through military might, but through shrewd counsel or perhaps a strategic, quiet action. This reminds us that true impact often comes from brilliant thinking, not just physical strength or authority. It shows how 'right words' can be incredibly powerful, capable of changing a nation's course.
Even the most crucial contributions can vanish from memory, especially when they come from the margins of society. What does this tell us about human nature and recognition?
The tragic twist in this story is the immediate forgetting of the poor, wise man. His monumental service, saving the entire city, earned him no lasting recognition or reward. He quickly faded back into obscurity, his act of brilliance erased from the collective memory. This points to a profound 'vanity' Solomon observes: the world often fails to acknowledge or even remember those who serve it best, particularly if they lack wealth or status. History is filled with 'forgotten heroes' whose wisdom and sacrifice went unrewarded, often overshadowed by the powerful and the popular.
Understand the original words
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misken · Hebrew Adjective
Describes an individual possessing little material wealth or social status. Biblically, the poor are often subjects of divine concern, and their humility can sometimes be the vessel through which God works.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; in the wisdom literature, it is fundamentally rooted in the fear of the Lord and the practical application of divine truth to daily life.
geburah · Hebrew Noun
Physical strength, power, or force; often contrasted in Scripture with divine wisdom to show the superiority of God’s ways over human capability.
rash · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
One who lacks financial resources, but often used in Scripture to refer to those who are humble or socially marginalized and thus uniquely open to God's truth.
This passage directly parallels the idea of a significant service being rendered and then immediately forgotten, as the chief cupbearer forgot to remember Joseph after his release from prison.
2 Samuel 20:16While the wisdom here comes from a woman, the story of the wise woman of Abel-Beth-Maachah delivering her city through counsel echoes the theme of wisdom saving a populace, though her contribution was remembered for a time.
Luke 2:47This verse highlights Jesus, the 'poor wise man' in a sense, astonishing the elders with His understanding, foreshadowing the wisdom that would ultimately deliver His people, though He too was often unremembered or rejected.
Isaiah 53:2-3This prophecy describes the Suffering Servant as having 'no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him,' a stark parallel to the 'poor wise man' who was overlooked despite his crucial deliverance.
wesleyEcclesiastes 9:15: "Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man."
9:15 Yet - He was soon neglected and his great service forgotten.
henryEcclesiastes 9:13-18: "This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:"
9:13-18 A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it…
What's striking here is not just that the man's service was forgotten, but that his very existence faded away the moment the crisis passed. His wisdom was so potent it saved everyone, yet his poverty meant he "fell back into his insignificance," utterly overlooked as soon as his one remarkable deed was done.
The narrator, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of life and labor, describes a city under siege, facing imminent destruction. Though a poor, unknown man used his wisdom to save them, his crucial service was quickly forgotten, highlighting how wisdom and great deeds often go unrecognized and unrewarded by the world. This incident serves as a stark example of the vanity Solomon has been observing throughout the book.
The narrator, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of life and labor, describes a city under siege, facing imminent destruction. Though a poor, unknown man used his wisdom to save them, his crucial service was quickly forgotten, highlighting how wisdom and great deeds often go unrecognized and unrewarded by the world. This incident serves as a stark example of the vanity Solomon has been observing throughout the book.
"But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard." — What's striking here is not just that the man's service was forgotten, but that his very existence faded away the moment the crisis passed. His wisdom was so potent it saved everyone, yet his pover…
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Last reviewed October 2026
