Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:16
16I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped 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 everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind. 18For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- I communedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- with mine own heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lo, I am come to great estateגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- and have gottenיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
- more wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- that have been beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- me in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- had greatרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
- experienceרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: examineH7200
- and knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:16
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Psalms 4:4Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah
- Psalms 77:6At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.
- Isaiah 10:7But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.
- Jeremiah 22:14who says, “I will build myself a massive palace, with spacious upstairs rooms.” He will cut windows in it, and it will be paneled with cedar and painted bright red.
- Ezekiel 38:10“‘This 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 that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?”
- Ecclesiastes 2:9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me.
- 1 Kings 3:12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.
- 1 Kings 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 10:7But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of yours?”
- 2 Chronicles 2:12Hiram also said: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He gave 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 9:22King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom.
- Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature — for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and 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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries