As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
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.”
- KJV For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
- 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.”
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 marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden.”
- Jer 8:9The wise men are disappointed. They are dismayed and trapped. Behold, they have rejected Yahweh’s word. What kind of wisdom is in them?
- 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”
- Job 5:12–13He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
- Isa 19:11The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh has become stupid. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?”
- Isa 19:3The spirit of Egypt will fail within it. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and 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.