Ecclesiastes 9 14

Ecclesiastes 9:14 kjv

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:

Ecclesiastes 9:14 nkjv

There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 niv

There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 esv

There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 nlt

There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.

Ecclesiastes 9 verses

Ecclesiastes 9 14 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 9:14 introduces a parabolic scenario or illustrative anecdote designed to set the stage for a profound observation about wisdom. It describes a vulnerable "little city" with "few men" within its walls, which comes under attack by an immensely powerful "great king." This king not only besieges the city but meticulously builds "great bulwarks" against it, signifying an overwhelming and thoroughly planned assault. The verse vividly portrays a situation of stark contrast between utter weakness and immense, conquering strength, implying an inevitable downfall for the small city. However, its true significance is revealed in the subsequent verses, highlighting that despite the dire odds, wisdom can provide an unexpected, though often unrewarded, deliverance.

Ecclesiastes 9 14 Context

Ecclesiastes 9:14 is presented within a larger discourse by Qoheleth concerning the unpredictability of life, the limitations of human effort, and the often-unrecognized value of wisdom "under the sun." The verses preceding it (Eccl 9:11-12) speak of "time and chance" happening to all, highlighting that success in life, including in races, battles, or the pursuit of wealth, is not guaranteed by strength, speed, or skill. This verse sets up an illustrative story or parable, preparing the reader for a practical demonstration of this theme, specifically focusing on wisdom's often overlooked efficacy in contrast to brute force.

Historically, the described scenario of a great king besieging a smaller, weaker city was a common reality in the ancient Near East. Sieges were a primary military strategy, and the description of "bulwarks" (siege mounds or ramparts) accurately reflects ancient warfare tactics. The illustration is grounded in everyday experience and familiar anxieties of the time. The narrative implicitly challenges the conventional belief that overwhelming military power is the ultimate arbiter, introducing a paradigm shift in the subsequent verses by demonstrating the power of overlooked wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9 14 Word analysis

• "There was": This introductory phrase, "אָמַר לְךָ מָשָׁל" (ʾāmār ləkā māšāl - roughly "a parable for you") or similar phrasing, signals an illustrative narrative rather than a historical record. It invites the listener to consider a principle.
• "a little city":
  • Hebrew: עִיר קְטַנָּה (ʿîr qeṭannāh)
  • Significance: Denotes vulnerability, insignificance, humility, or lack of outward power. It contrasts sharply with the "great king." Symbolically, it could represent any individual, group, or nation in a state of weakness.
• "and few men within it":
  • Hebrew: וַאֲנָשִׁים מְעָט בָּהּ (waʾănāšîm mĕʿāṭ bāh)
  • Significance: Emphasizes the city's inadequacy for defense; it lacks numbers, resources, and might. Reinforces the theme of weakness against a superior force.
• "and there came": Implies an unprovoked, aggressive act, disrupting the normal state.
• "a great king":
  • Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל (meleḵ gāḏôl)
  • Significance: Represents overwhelming power, immense resources, formidable authority, and a formidable threat. Could symbolize a conquering empire, a tyrannical force, or even the inevitable power of death or overwhelming circumstance.
• "against it": Points to direct confrontation and hostile intent.
• "and besieged it":
  • Hebrew: וַיָּצַר עָלֶיהָ (wayyāṣar ʿālāyhā)
  • Significance: Total encirclement; cutting off all access and egress. Implies isolation and impending doom. A common and devastating ancient warfare tactic.
• "and built": Implies methodical, determined effort.
• "great bulwarks":
  • Hebrew: מְצוֹדִים גְּדֹלִים (məṣôḏîm gĕḏōlîm)
  • Significance: Literal siege mounds, ramparts, or elaborate fortifications used to overcome city walls. This highlights the King's overwhelming, deliberate, and comprehensive strategy, making resistance seem utterly futile.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "a little city, and few men within it": This phrase together establishes a vivid image of weakness and numerical inferiority. The immediate sense of vulnerability sets up the stark contrast that is pivotal to the lesson of wisdom. It evokes sympathy and emphasizes the desperate odds.
• "a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it": This phrase group describes a massive, well-orchestrated, and seemingly irresistible force. The "great king" coupled with "besieged" and "great bulwarks" paints a picture of inescapable doom for the "little city." This escalation of threat underlines the immense power arrayed against weakness, setting up the paradox that follows in Eccl 9:15-16.

Ecclesiastes 9 14 Bonus section

This verse functions not as a literal historical account but as a mashal (parable or proverb) characteristic of wisdom literature. It is designed to provoke thought and illustrate a universal truth about the nature of wisdom's effectiveness and its reception in the world. The setting is timeless, emphasizing the often-ignored potential within weakness when guided by divine or practical wisdom. While it does not explicitly mention God, the entire book of Ecclesiastes is set within a theological framework, implying that true wisdom often aligns with God's design or intervention, even if unacknowledged by men. This passage indirectly critiques reliance solely on human might and highlights the subtle yet powerful influence that God's ways or human ingenuity can exert against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Ecclesiastes 9 14 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 9:14 functions as a prelude, a descriptive narrative setting a scene of extreme imbalance and inevitable defeat. It presents a scenario instantly recognizable to an ancient audience: a small, ill-defended city confronted by the full might of a vast and organized enemy. The imagery of the "great king" meticulously constructing "great bulwarks" emphasizes the overwhelming, planned, and inescapable nature of the threat. The verse, on its own, seems to reinforce Qoheleth's pervasive theme of the vanity and futility found "under the sun"—how the small and weak are often overwhelmed by the strong and mighty, regardless of any inherent goodness or justice. However, its primary purpose is to dramatically underscore the profound irony that wisdom, though often despised and forgotten (as elaborated in Eccl 9:15-16), can, in fact, achieve what immense power and resources cannot. It challenges conventional expectations by preparing the reader for a revelation about a force beyond physical might, which, while potent, often receives no recognition or lasting reward in this world.