Proverbs 21:22 kjv

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

Proverbs 21:22 nkjv

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Proverbs 21:22 niv

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

Proverbs 21:22 esv

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

Proverbs 21:22 nlt

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

Proverbs 21 verses

Proverbs 21 22 Meaning

A wise person, equipped with divine wisdom, possesses a strategic advantage that allows them to overcome even the most formidable obstacles or deeply entrenched systems, symbolised by a fortified city and its mighty defenders. This wisdom enables them to dismantle the very foundations and false securities upon which the strong place their trust, achieving victory not through brute force but through discernment, knowledge, and God-given insight.

Proverbs 21 22 Context

Proverbs chapter 21 presents a collection of contrasts and wisdom statements, highlighting the paths of the righteous versus the wicked, and the effectiveness of wisdom compared to foolishness or reliance on mere strength. The chapter frequently speaks to the Lord's sovereignty over human endeavors and the futility of human striving apart from Him. Verse 22 specifically follows proverbs emphasizing the Lord's role in guiding leaders and observing actions (v.1), and precedes verses that address the prideful heart (v.23-24) and the deceitful heart (v.25-27), positioning wisdom as a counterpoint to such human flaws. The historical context reflects ancient societies where cities were fortified, and military might was a primary measure of power. The verse challenges the common belief that only physical strength or grand fortifications guaranteed security, asserting the superior, often unconventional, power of wisdom. It subtly polemicizes against misplaced trust in human defenses or resources as ultimate security.

Proverbs 21 22 Word analysis

• A wise man (חָכָם - chakham): This Hebrew term for "wise" denotes not just intellectual knowledge but also practical skill, discernment, and ethical living guided by adherence to God's ways (Prov 1:7). It represents one who understands the true nature of reality and operates effectively within it, often implying a fear of the Lord (Prov 9:10). This wisdom is often seen as divinely sourced (Prov 2:6).
• Scales (עָלָה - ʿālāh): Literally means "goes up" or "ascends." In this context, it implies an active and determined attack, a strategic advance or overcoming. It suggests the wise person is not merely observant but actively engages and surmounts difficulties. It could also evoke the image of a besieging army scaling walls, but here done through wisdom's approach.
• The city of the mighty (עִיר גִּבֹּרִים - ʿīr gibbōrîm):
  • City (ʿīr): Represents an established, fortified, and structured stronghold, often a center of power or a system. It denotes permanence and defense.
  • Mighty (gibbōrîm): Refers to strong, valiant warriors or heroes. These are individuals who possess great physical power, military prowess, or perhaps political influence. The phrase conjures an image of formidable physical or societal resistance. The mighty often represent human pride, self-reliance, and reliance on their own strength, which wisdom proves superior to.
• And brings down (וַיּוֹרֶד - vayyôred): This means "he causes to go down," "he demolishes," or "he humbles." It implies effective, decisive action leading to the collapse or dismantling of the target. This isn't just winning a battle, but dismantling the system itself.
• The stronghold (מִבְטַח - mibṭāḥ): Means "place of trust," "security," or "refuge." While it can refer to a physical fortress or bulwark, in a wisdom context it metaphorically encompasses whatever gives confidence and security to the "mighty." This can include their ideologies, their self-confidence, their perceived invincibility, or even their gods (in the context of ancient Near Eastern polemics where different nations trusted in their own deities and their power).
• In which they trusted (בִּטְחֹם - biṭḥōm): Explicitly states that this "stronghold" is the object of their confidence and reliance. This highlights the misplaced nature of the mighty's trust, as it is eventually undermined and brought low by wisdom.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• A wise man scales the city of the mighty: This phrase portrays an audacious act where strategic intelligence overcomes sheer brute force or established power structures. The "wise man" acts as an agent of change, challenging what seems impregnable. It suggests that wisdom has a penetrative, disruptive power against consolidated authority that is not rooted in divine truth.
• And brings down the stronghold in which they trusted: This emphasizes the ultimate outcome: not just victory, but the destruction of the very basis of the opponent's confidence. Wisdom exposes the fallacy or weakness of misplaced trust, whether it's in human might, fortifications, or false ideologies, causing it to collapse from within or without. This destruction is not merely physical but also conceptual, dismantling the worldview or assumptions of the "mighty."

Proverbs 21 22 Bonus section

The "stronghold" (mibṭāḥ) concept finds profound echo in the New Testament's spiritual warfare passages, particularly in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, where spiritual weapons are used "for the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God." This suggests that the "strongholds" of Proverbs 21:22 are often not merely physical fortresses but also deeply rooted patterns of thought, false ideologies, cultural systems, or spiritual principalities that resist the truth of God. Thus, the wise man's conquest is often a victory in the realm of truth, ethics, or spiritual influence. The wisdom needed for such victory is not innate human intelligence alone, but that which is given by God and aligned with His will.

Proverbs 21 22 Commentary

Proverbs 21:22 articulates a profound truth about the efficacy of divine wisdom over carnal strength and misguided trust. The verse is not necessarily about literal military conquest by one person but about the superior strategic power of wisdom in any challenge, be it intellectual, spiritual, or societal. Wisdom (chakham) provides insight into hidden weaknesses, enabling a nuanced approach rather than brute force. It can circumvent direct confrontation or identify the true vulnerability of an opponent. The "city of the mighty" represents any entrenched power system—a stronghold of sin, a prevailing error, a spiritual opposition, or even an individual's hardened pride. The "stronghold in which they trust" points to the false sense of security derived from worldly strength, knowledge, or false gods, which true wisdom exposes and dismantles. This teaches that spiritual and strategic acumen, flowing from God's wisdom, is ultimately more potent than any humanly constructed defense or power. For believers, this highlights the necessity of divine wisdom in overcoming life's challenges and spiritual adversaries, reminding us that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Cor 10:4).