Ecclesiastes 1:18

Ecclesiastes 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
• New International Version (NIV)For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Context of Ecclesiastes 1:18

16I spoke with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom and experience, more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.” 17And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 word by word

כִּ֛י בְּרֹ֥ב חָכְמָ֖ה רָב־כָּ֑עַס וְיוֹסִ֥יף דַּ֖עַת יוֹסִ֥יף מַכְאֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For in muchרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• griefכַּ֫עַסka‛as ka‛aώ · vexationH3708
• and he that increasethיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
• knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• sorrowמַכְאוֹבmak'ôb mak'ôb mak'ôbâh · painH4341

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:18

• Ecclesiastes 2:15Then I said to myself, “As it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. What use is it then for me to be extremely wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless).”
• Ecclesiastes 7:16Do not be excessively righteous [like those given to self-conceit], and do not be overly wise (pretentious)—why should you bring yourself to ruin?
• Ecclesiastes 12:12But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.
• Job 28:28But to man He said, ‘Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise.
• James 3:13Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For in much wisdom is much grief - The more we know of ourselves the less satisfied shall we be with our own hearts; and the more we know of mankind the less willing shall we be to trust them, and the less shall we admire them. Be that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow - And why so? Because, independently of God, the principal objects of knowledge are natural and moral evils. The Targum gives a curious paraphrase here: "The man who multiplies wisdom…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18We become more sensible of our ignorance and impotence, and therefore sorrowful, in proportion as we discover more of the constitution of nature and the scheme of Providence in the government of the world; every discovery serving to convince us that more remains concealed of which we had no suspicion before.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-18The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. wisdom ... knowledge--not in general, for wisdom, &c., are most excellent in their place; but speculative knowledge of man's ways (Ec 1:13, 17), which, the farther it goes, gives one the more pain to find how "crooked" and "wanting" they are (Ec 1:15; 12:12).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:18

• Instruction
• Investigation
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Sun
• Vanity
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings