Proverbs 21:22

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה

Transliteration

ʿîr gibbōrîm ʿālāh ḥāḵām and-yōred ʿōz miḇṭeḥāh

Grammar Details

• *ʿîr*: construct feminine singular noun - city of
• *gibbōrîm*: masculine plural noun - mighty men
• *ʿālāh*: 3rd masculine singular qal perfect - he went up
• *ḥāḵām*: masculine singular adjective - wise person
• *yōred*: 3rd masculine singular hiphil imperfect - he brings down
• *ʿōz*: construct masculine singular noun - strength of
• *miḇṭeḥāh*: feminine singular noun + 3rd feminine singular suffix - its confidence

Word Meanings

• *ʿîr*: city/town
• *gibbōrîm*: mighty men/warriors/heroes
• *ʿālāh*: went up/ascended/scaled
• *ḥāḵām*: wise person/sage
• *yōred*: brings down/takes down/lowers
• *ʿōz*: strength/might/power
• *miḇṭeḥāh*: its confidence/trust/security

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 7:19 : 19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
• Eccl 9:13-18 : 13 I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. 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. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
• 2 Sam 5:6-9 : 6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house. 9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
• 2 Sam 20:16-22 : 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 17 And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter]. 19 I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah? 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
• Prov 24:5 : 5 A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.