Ecclesiastes 1:16

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 works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind. 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge. 17And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind. 18For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 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

• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• becomeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• greatגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• muchרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:16

• 2 Kings 5:20And Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; but as Jehovah liveth, I will run after him and take somewhat of him.
• Psalms 4:4Be moved with anger, and sin not; meditate in your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
• Psalms 77:6I remember my song in the night; I muse in mine own heart, and my spirit maketh diligent search.
• Isaiah 10:7But he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; for it is in his heart to extirpate and cut off nations not a few.
• Jeremiah 22:14that saith, I will build me a wide house, and spacious upper chambers; and he cutteth out for himself windows; and it is wainscoted with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
• Ezekiel 38:10Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall even come to pass in that day that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought;
• Daniel 4:30the king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
• Ecclesiastes 2:9And I became great, and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
• 1 Kings 3:12behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there hath been none like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
• 1 Kings 4:30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the sons of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
• 1 Kings 10:7but I gave no credit to the words, until I came and mine eyes had seen; and behold, the half was not told me: in wisdom and prosperity thou exceedest the report that I heard.
• 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy great people?
• 2 Chronicles 2:12And Huram said, Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, that made the heavens and the earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for Jehovah and a house for his kingdom.
• 2 Chronicles 9:22And king Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
• Hebrews 5:14but solid food belongs to full-grown men, who, on account of habit, have their senses exercised for distinguishing both 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

• Instruction
• Investigation
• Science
• Solomon

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Sun
• Vanity
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Experience
• 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