For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Parallel translations
- WEB For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
- BSB For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
- NKJV For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
- NASB For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”
- NLT As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Quoting Isaiah, Paul declares God will overturn human wisdom. God himself destroys the pretensions of the worldly wise.
Overview
Paul cites Isaiah 29:14 to show that God's frustration of human wisdom is His longstanding pattern, not a new development. The proud cleverness of the world cannot grasp or contain God's saving plan. Scripture itself testifies that God deliberately nullifies the wisdom that exalts itself against Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Isa 29:14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
- Jer 8:9The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
- 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
- Job 5:12–13He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- Isa 19:11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
- Isa 19:3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 1:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.