Ecclesiastes 2:13

Ecclesiastes 2:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
• New International Version (NIV)I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:13

11Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. 12So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. 14The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. 15Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 word by word

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• thatיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• excellethיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• follyסִכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• as far as lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 9:16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
• Proverbs 4:5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
• Proverbs 16:16How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
• Malachi 3:18Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
• Malachi 4:1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
• Ecclesiastes 11:7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
• Psalms 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
• Proverbs 4:18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
• Matthew 6:23but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
• Luke 11:7and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?
• Ephesians 5:8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly - Though in none of these pursuits I found the supreme good, the happiness my soul longed after; yet I could easily perceive that wisdom excelled the others, as far as light excels darkness. And he immediately subjoins the reasons.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14wisdom exceeds folly: Wisdom is useful because it helps navigate life successfully. However, it cannot prevent death or give life meaning (Ecclesiastes 2:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. (Pr 17:24). The worldly "wise" man has good sense in managing his affairs, skill and taste in building and planting, and keeps within safe and respectable bounds in pleasure, while the "fool" is wanting in these respects ("darkness," equivalent to fatal error, blind infatuation), yet one event, death, happens to both (Job 21:26).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Light
• Pleasure
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings