Ecclesiastes 9:14
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
Original Language Analysis
עִ֣יר
city
H5892
עִ֣יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
1 of 15
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
קְטַנָּ֔ה
There was a little
H6996
קְטַנָּ֔ה
There was a little
Strong's:
H6996
Word #:
2 of 15
abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)
וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים
men
H582
וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים
men
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
וּבָֽא
within it and there came
H935
וּבָֽא
within it and there came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
6 of 15
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
גְּדֹלִֽים׃
a great
H1419
גְּדֹלִֽים׃
a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
9 of 15
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְסָבַ֣ב
against it and besieged
H5437
וְסָבַ֣ב
against it and besieged
Strong's:
H5437
Word #:
10 of 15
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
אֹתָ֔הּ
H853
אֹתָ֔הּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עָלֶ֖יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֖יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern warfare frequently involved siege tactics against fortified cities. Assyrian and Babylonian reliefs depict massive siege ramps and towers. Small cities facing great empires (like Jerusalem before Sennacherib) knew this existential terror.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you respond when facing overwhelming obstacles where conventional resources prove inadequate?
- In what ways does this scenario parallel spiritual warfare—the weak Church facing hostile powers?
- What does it mean to trust wisdom rather than strength when circumstances seem impossible?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
There was a little city, and few men within it (עִיר קְטַנָּה וַאֲנָשִׁים בָּהּ מְעָט, ir qetannah va'anashim bah me'at)—a small city with few inhabitants, emphasizing vulnerability. And there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it (וּבָא־אֵלֶיהָ מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל וְסָבַב אֹתָהּ וּבָנָה עָלֶיהָ מְצוֹדִים גְּדֹלִים, uva-eleha melekh gadol vesavav otah uvanah aleha metsodim gedolim)—a great king came, surrounded it, and built great siege works.
The parable establishes impossible odds: qetannah (small) city with me'at (few) defenders versus melekh gadol (great king) with metsodim gedolim (great bulwarks/siege towers). The verb savav (surrounded, encircled) indicates complete military investment—no escape. Ancient siege warfare was devastating; Deuteronomy 28:52 describes it as covenant curse. The setup creates dramatic tension: how can the weak possibly survive overwhelming force? This mirrors Israel's repeated historical predicaments—militarily outmatched yet divinely delivered (Exodus 14, 2 Kings 19). The answer comes in verse 15: not military might but wisdom.