Jeremiah 9:23 tells people not to take pride in what sets them apart from others, such as their intelligence, their strength or their money. The verse points instead to knowing God as the true source of honor. The words come from the LORD, spoken through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, who were living in a time of growing danger and moral decline.
The LORD says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.
Jeremiah 9:23 (WEB)
What Jeremiah 9:23 Means
The verse names three kinds of people who are tempted to boast: the wise, the mighty and the rich. Each represents a real strength that a person might rightly be grateful for. The problem is not having wisdom, power or wealth. The problem is making those things the reason you feel important, or the thing you trust when life falls apart. The word “glory” here means to boast or take pride in something as your identity.
Notice what the verse does not say. It does not call wisdom, strength or money evil, and it does not tell anyone to pretend to be weaker or poorer than they are. It is a warning about where a person places their confidence. A wise person can use wisdom well, but if that wisdom becomes the basis of their worth, it will eventually fail them. The same is true of strength, which can be lost through illness or age, and of riches, which can vanish overnight.
The verse also does not promise that God will make the wise, strong or rich into everything they want. It describes a different kind of boasting that the LORD approves of, which the next verse makes clear. The emphasis falls on what a person treasures most, not on a list of resources they happen to possess.
The Context of Jeremiah 9:23
The book of Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who ministered in Jerusalem in the years before Babylon conquered Judah in the early sixth century BC. The surrounding passage describes death sweeping through the city and the nation facing judgment for its unfaithfulness. Mourning women are called to lament, and the people are reminded that their hope cannot rest on their own resources when disaster arrives.
Read in that setting, the verse carries much more weight. The wise, mighty and rich of Judah could not save their families from the coming destruction. The verses that follow in Jeremiah 9:24 give the positive alternative: let the one who boasts boast in understanding and in knowing the LORD, who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness. The warning against false pride is therefore part of a larger call to trust the God who acts with faithfulness on the earth.
Key Phrases in Jeremiah 9:23
1 Corinthians 1:31
That, according as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
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Paul quotes the same principle from Jeremiah, urging believers that whoever boasts should boast in the Lord. He applies it to the Corinthian church, where some were proud of their status and teachers. The connection shows how the early Christians read Jeremiah’s warning as central to the gospel.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
(WEB)
These verses call the reader to trust the LORD with all their heart rather than leaning on their own understanding. They express the same contrast between human self-reliance and dependence on God. Together with Jeremiah 9:23, they encourage a humble posture toward wisdom.
A Short Prayer From Jeremiah 9:23
Lord, you see the things I am tempted to be proud of, and you know how easily I forget where they came from. Help me to hold my wisdom, strength and resources with open hands. Teach me to find my worth in knowing you and in the way you show kindness, justice and faithfulness. When I feel the pull to compare myself with others, remind me that you are the one who gives every good thing. Amen.
