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 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. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 word by word

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

• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:18

• Ecclesiastes 2:15And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 7:16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
• Ecclesiastes 12:12And besides, my son, be warned by them: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
• Job 28:28And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise.
• James 3:13Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of 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