Ecclesiastes 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A poor but wise man saved the besieged city by his wisdom, yet afterward no one remembered him.
What Does Ecclesiastes 9:15 Mean?
The story turns on an unexpected hero. Within the little city was a poor wise man, and by his wisdom, not by wealth or weapons, he delivered the whole town. Yet the rescue carried no lasting honor for him. Once the danger passed, no one remembered the poor man who had saved them all.
Here is the bittersweet heart of the parable. Wisdom proved mightier than a great king's army, yet the world repaid its deliverer with forgetfulness. The verse honors quiet, unrewarded faithfulness and warns against measuring worth by recognition. It cannot help but call to mind the One who saved many and was despised and forgotten by them, the rejected stone who became the cornerstone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 9:15
What does Ecclesiastes 9:15 mean?
A poor but wise man saved the besieged city by his wisdom, yet afterward no one remembered him.