Sirach 44:3 kjva — Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and decla…

Sirach 44:3 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:”

Sirach 44:3 is found in the Apocrypha, in the book of Sirach, chapter 44, verse 3.

Sirach is traditionally attributed to Jesus ben Sira of Jerusalem (Greek translation by his grandson). Also known as Ecclesiasticus ("the church book"). The grandson's prologue dates the Greek translation to Egypt c. 132 BC. Significant Hebrew portions survive in the Cairo Geniza and at Masada. It was written c. 180 BC (Hebrew original); c. 132 BC (Greek translation).

Sirach is the longest wisdom book in the broader canon — fifty-one chapters of proverbs, hymns, and reflections on the fear of the Lord. Ben Sira touches every corner of life: speech and silence, business and friendship, family and discipline, table manners and grief. The book closes with the "Praise of the Fathers" (chs. 44–50), a hymnic survey of Israel's heroes from Enoch to the high priest Simon — a forerunner of Hebrews 11.

Sirach explores themes including Fear of the Lord, Wisdom, Ethics, Friendship, Heroes of Faith. These themes shape the meaning and context of Sirach 44:3.

Sirach 44:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

Sirach 44:3 reads (KJVA): “Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.