The Meaning of Proverbs 21:22 Explained

Proverbs 21:22

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

YLT: A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.

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

ASV: A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 21:22 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:22 mean?

The city of the mighty scales a wise [man] and brings down the stronghold trusted
עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה

עִ֣יר  The  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
גִּ֭בֹּרִים  of  the  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
עָלָ֣ה  scales 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
חָכָ֑ם  a  wise  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד  and  brings  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
עֹ֣ז  the  stronghold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
מִבְטֶחָֽה  trusted 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מִבְטָח  
Sense: trust, confidence, refuge.