Ecclesiastes 8:17

Ecclesiastes 8:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
• New International Version (NIV)then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
• New King James Version (NKJV)then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:17

15So I recommend the enjoyment ⌞of life⌟. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun. 16When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night), then I saw everything that God has done. No one is able to grasp the work that is done under the sun. However hard a person may search for it, he will not find ⌞its meaning⌟. Even though a wise person claims to know, he is not able to grasp it.

Ecclesiastes 8:17 word by word

וְרָאִיתִי֮ אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִים֒ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכַ֜ל הָאָדָ֗ם לִמְצוֹא֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ בְּ֠שֶׁל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲמֹ֧ל הָאָדָ֛ם לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑א וְגַ֨ם אִם־יֹאמַ֤ר הֶֽחָכָם֙ לָדַ֔עַת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִמְצֹֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I beheldרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• all the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• that a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• find outמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• that is doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• becauseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• thoughשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• labourעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• outבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• yea further; though a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• thinkאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:17

• Ecclesiastes 3:11It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds. Yet, mortals still can’t grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end ⌞of time⌟.
• Ecclesiastes 7:23I used wisdom to test all of this. I said, “I want to be wise, but it is out of my reach.”
• Ecclesiastes 11:5Just as you don’t know how the breath of life enters the limbs of a child within its mother’s womb, you also don’t understand how God, who made everything, works.
• Job 5:9He does great things that ⌞we⌟ cannot understand and miracles that ⌞we⌟ cannot count.
• Job 11:7“Can you discover God’s hidden secrets, or are you able to find the Almighty’s limits?
• Psalms 40:5You have done many miraculous things, O Lord my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us. No one compares to you! I will tell others about your miracles, which are more than I can count.
• Psalms 73:16But when I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me.
• Psalms 104:24What a large number of things you have made, O Lord! You made them all by wisdom. The earth is filled with your creatures.
• Proverbs 30:3I haven’t learned wisdom. I don’t have knowledge of the Holy One.
• Isaiah 40:28Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach.
• Romans 11:33God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun - I saw it to be of such a nature - That a man cannot find it out. That if he labor to find it out, he shall not succeed. That though he be wise - the most instructed among men, and think to find it out, he shall find he is not able. It is beyond the wisdom and power of man. How vain then are all your cavils about Providence. You do not understand it; you…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17A person could spend all their time searching for answers, but some reasons will remain unclear. For example, God's justice can be mysterious.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-17Ec 8:1-17. 1. Praise of true wisdom continued (Ec 7:11, &c.). "Who" is to be accounted "equal to the wise man? ... Who (like him) knoweth the interpretation" of God's providences (for example, Ec 7:8, 13, 14), and God's word (for example, see on Ec 7:29; Pr 1:6)? face to shine--(Ec 7:14; Ac 6:15). A sunny countenance, the reflection of a tranquil conscience and serene mind. Communion with God gives it (Ex 34:29, 30). boldness--austerity. changed--into a…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:17

• Ignorance
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Wise, Man
• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Far; Farther

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings