Berean Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:16
16I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
Ecclesiastes 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
- New International Version (NIV)I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
- New King James Version (NKJV)I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”
Context of Ecclesiastes 1:16
14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” 17So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind. 18For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 1Ecclesiastes 1:16 word by word
דִּבַּ֨רְתִּי אֲנִ֤י עִם־לִבִּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֨ה הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙ חָכְמָ֔ה עַ֛ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלִבִּ֛י רָאָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה חָכְמָ֥ה וָדָֽעַת׃Read the interlinear
- Iאֲנִי'ănîy · IH589
- saidדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- toעִם‛im · withH5973
- myselfלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- myselfאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
- have grownגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- and increasedיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
- in wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- beyondעַל‛al · uponH5921
- allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- thoseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- before meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- who wereהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- has observedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: examineH7200
- a wealthרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
- and knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:16
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Psalms 4:4Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah
- Psalms 77:6At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:
- Isaiah 10:7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
- Jeremiah 22:14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.
- Ezekiel 38:10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- Daniel 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Ecclesiastes 2:9So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.
- 1 Kings 3:12behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
- 1 Kings 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 10:7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- 2 Chronicles 2:12And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
- 2 Chronicles 9:22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
- Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16I communed with mine own heart - Literally, "I spoke, I, with my heart, saying." When successful in my researches, but not happy in my soul, though easy in my circumstances, I entered into my own heart, and there inquired the cause of my discontent. He found that, though - He had gotten wisdom beyond all men; Wealth and honors more than any other; Practical wisdom more than all his predecessors; Had tried pleasure and animal gratification, even to their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16I am come - Rather, I have accumulated (literally “enlarged and added”) wisdom more than etc. They that have been - The reference is probably to the line of Canaanite kings who lived in Jerusalem before David took it, such as Melchizedek Genesis 14:18, Adonizedek Joshua 10:1, and Araunah 2 Samuel 24:23; or, it may be, to Solomon‘s contemporaries of his own country 1 Kings 4:31 and of other countries who visited him 1 Kings 4:34; 1 Kings 10:24. for…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. 1616. communed with ... heart--(Ge 24:45). come to great estate--Rather, "I have magnified and gotten" (literally, "added," increased), &c. all ... before me in Jerusalem--namely, the priests, judges, and two kings that preceded Solomon. His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Lu 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Mt 11:19; 12:42). had ... experience--literally, "had seen" (Jr 2:31). Contrast with…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:16
In the dictionaries
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
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries