Wisdom 9:13-18: Who Can Learn God's Counsel?
Human Limitation and Divine Wisdom in the Wisdom of Solomon
📚 About the Apocrypha
The Wisdom of Solomon is part of the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical books—accepted as canonical by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches but considered non-canonical by Protestant traditions. This study examines the text for its historical and theological insights while noting its disputed canonical status.
The book of Wisdom, traditionally attributed to Solomon but likely written in the first century BCE, contains profound reflections on divine wisdom and human limitation. Chapter 9 presents a prayer for wisdom, culminating in verses 13-18 with a sobering assessment of humanity's inability to fully comprehend God's counsel without divine assistance.
"For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is? For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain. For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and this earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out? And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above? For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom."
— Wisdom 9:13-18 (KJV, Apocrypha)Historical Context of Wisdom
Authorship and Date
Despite its attribution to Solomon, scholars date the Wisdom of Solomon to approximately 100-50 BCE, making it one of the latest books in the Apocrypha. The author wrote in Greek, likely in Alexandria, Egypt, where a large Jewish community faced Hellenistic cultural pressures.
Period
1st Century BCE (c. 100-50 BCE)
Location
Alexandria, Egypt (likely)
Language
Greek (not Hebrew)
Context
Hellenistic Jewish Community
Purpose of the Book
The Wisdom of Solomon was written to encourage Jews to remain faithful to their heritage while living in a dominant Greek culture. It presents wisdom as the highest good, identifying wisdom with God's spirit and portraying it as the guide to righteousness and immortality.
Structure of Wisdom 9:13-18
A Series of Rhetorical Questions
The passage opens with two profound rhetorical questions that set the tone for the entire section. These questions expect a negative answer—no human can fully know God's counsel without divine help.
- Verse 13: "What man is he that can know the counsel of God?"
- Verse 13: "Who can think what the will of the Lord is?"
- Verse 16: "The things that are in heaven who hath searched out?"
- Verse 17: "Thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom?"
Key Theme: The passage emphasizes human epistemological limitation—we cannot know divine things by human effort alone. Divine revelation through wisdom and the Holy Spirit is essential.
Theological Themes
Human Cognitive Limitation
Verses 14-15 present a sobering anthropology. Human thoughts are described as "miserable" (Greek: eikazein—to conjecture or guess) and human devices as "uncertain." This limitation is attributed to the corruptible body that "presseth down the soul."
Key Greek Terms
The Body-Soul Relationship
Verse 15 reflects Platonic influence common in Hellenistic Judaism: "the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and this earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind." This dualistic view contrasts with Hebrew anthropology, which typically sees the person as a unified whole.
Divine Revelation Required
Verse 17 provides the solution: God must give wisdom and send His Holy Spirit from above. This is one of the clearest references to the Holy Spirit in the Apocrypha and shows development toward New Testament pneumatology.
Comparison with Canonical Scripture
| Theme | Wisdom 9:13-18 | Canonical Parallels |
|---|---|---|
| God's Incomprehensible Counsel | "Who can know the counsel of God?" | Isaiah 40:13, Romans 11:34 |
| Human Limitation | "Thoughts of mortal men are miserable" | Jeremiah 17:9, 1 Corinthians 3:20 |
| Body Weighing Down | "Corruptible body presseth down the soul" | 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 |
| Need for Divine Wisdom | "Except thou give wisdom" | James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 |
| Holy Spirit's Role | "Send thy Holy Spirit from above" | John 14:26, Acts 2:1-4 |
| Wisdom Saves | "Saved through wisdom" | Ephesians 2:8, 2 Timothy 3:15 |
Parallel Passages in Canonical Scripture
Old Testament Parallels
- Isaiah 40:13: "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?"
- Job 11:7-8: "Canst thou by searching find out God? ... It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?"
- Proverbs 2:6: "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
New Testament Parallels
- Romans 11:34: "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?"
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-12: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit... the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
- James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally."
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Wisdom 9:17 in Context
The reference to God sending "thy Holy Spirit from above" is remarkable for several reasons:
- It's one of the clearest Trinitarian hints in the Apocrypha
- It connects wisdom with the Spirit's work
- It anticipates New Testament pneumatology
- It shows divine initiative in revelation
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
— 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (KJV)Salvation Through Wisdom
Verse 18's Conclusion
The passage concludes with a soteriological statement: "men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom." This reflects the book's overarching theme that wisdom leads to righteousness and immortality.
Important Distinction: While Wisdom 9:18 speaks of being "saved through wisdom," the New Testament clarifies that salvation is through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Wisdom prepares the heart but Christ accomplishes salvation.
Application for Today
Humility in Theological Knowledge
This passage teaches humility. No theologian, pastor, or believer fully comprehends God's counsel. We know in part and prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9).
Dependence on the Holy Spirit
Understanding spiritual truth requires the Holy Spirit's illumination. Bible study without the Spirit's guidance produces knowledge without wisdom.
Prayer for Wisdom
Like the author of Wisdom, we should pray for divine wisdom. James 1:5 promises that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask.
Key Takeaways
- Wisdom 9:13-18 emphasizes human inability to know God's counsel without divine help
- The passage is from the Apocrypha—valuable but not universally canonical
- Human thoughts are limited by our mortal, corruptible nature
- God must give wisdom and send His Holy Spirit for true understanding
- Strong parallels exist with Isaiah 40:13, Romans 11:34, and 1 Corinthians 2
- The passage anticipates New Testament teaching on the Spirit's illuminating work
Conclusion
Wisdom 9:13-18 presents a profound meditation on human limitation and divine transcendence. While not part of the Protestant canon, this passage echoes themes found throughout Scripture: the incomprehensibility of God's counsel, the limitation of human understanding, and the necessity of divine revelation through the Holy Spirit.
For students of Scripture, this passage serves as a reminder that true wisdom comes from above. Our finite minds cannot exhaust the infinite wisdom of God. Yet in His grace, He reveals what we need to know through His Word and His Spirit. The appropriate response is humility, dependence, and gratitude for the wisdom God freely gives to those who ask.