The Meaning of Jeremiah 9:23 Explained

Jeremiah 9:23

KJV: Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

YLT: Thus said Jehovah: Let not the wise boast himself in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty boast himself in his might, Let not the rich boast himself in his riches,

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah: Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might; let not the rich glory in his riches:

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD,  Let not the wise  [man] glory  in his wisdom,  neither let the mighty  [man] glory  in his might,  let not the rich  [man] glory  in his riches: 

What does Jeremiah 9:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord commanded that the wise and strong and rich should not take pride in their wisdom and strength and wealth. One writer argued that Jeremiah ministered at a time when conventional wisdom was being challenged, and that this fact accounts for much of the opposition that he faced. [1]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 9

1  Jeremiah laments the people for their manifold sins;
9  and for their judgment
12  Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity
17  He exhorts to mourn for their destruction;
23  and to trust not in themselves, but in God
25  He threatens both Jews and Gentiles

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 9:23 mean?

Thus says Yahweh not let glory the wise [man] in his wisdom and not the mighty [man] in his might nor the rich [man] in his riches
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אַל־ יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־ הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־ עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ

כֹּ֣ה ׀  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל  let  glory 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
חָכָם֙  the  wise  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ  in  his  wisdom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וְאַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
הַגִּבּ֖וֹר  the  mighty  [man] 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ  in  his  might 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.
אַל־  nor 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
עָשִׁ֖יר  the  rich  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ  in  his  riches 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹשֶׁר  
Sense: wealth, riches.