Sirach 37:21 - For grace was not given him from the Lord; Because he is deprived of all wisdom.

Generated Verse: Sirach 37:21

What does "Sirach 37:21" mean?


Sirach 37:21, "For grace was not given him from the Lord; Because he is deprived of all wisdom," warns against seeking counsel from someone who lacks wisdom. Let's break it down:

"For grace was not given him from the Lord": This doesn't necessarily mean the person is eternally damned. Instead, "grace" here likely refers to divine favor or blessing that enables good judgment and wise decision-making. It implies that God has not endowed this person with the qualities needed to offer sound advice.

"Because he is deprived of all wisdom": This explains why the person lacks grace in the sense of wise counsel. They simply don't possess wisdom. This could be due to a lack of understanding, experience, discernment, or a moral compass.

Interpretation and Context:

Sirach 37 is concerned with choosing the right advisors. The chapter contrasts true friends and counselors with those who are false or self-serving. Verse 21 warns specifically against those whose lack of wisdom renders them unfit to give guidance. Their advice is likely to be flawed, harmful, or simply useless.

In simpler terms:

Don't trust this person's advice because they aren't wise. God hasn't given them the understanding or insight necessary to make good decisions, so their guidance is likely to be poor.

Practical Application:

The verse encourages caution and discernment when seeking advice. It reminds us to consider the source and assess whether the person offering counsel is genuinely wise and has the best interests of others at heart. We should not blindly follow advice, but rather evaluate it critically. We can seek advice from multiple people and pray for discernment.

What categories does "Sirach 37:21" have?