Ecclesiastes 8:16

Ecclesiastes 8:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
• New International Version (NIV)When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night—
• English Standard Version (ESV)When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,
• New King James Version (NKJV)When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:16

14There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. 15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), 17and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.

Ecclesiastes 8:16 word by word

כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת־לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֔ה וְלִרְאוֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֣י גַ֤ם בַּיּוֹם֙ וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה שֵׁנָ֕ה בְּעֵינָ֖יו אֵינֶ֥נּוּ רֹאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

• gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• and to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the taskעִנְיָן‛inyân · taskH6045
• whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• has been doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• thoughכִּיkîy · forH3588
• oneאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• sleepשֵׁנָהshênâh shênâ' · sleepH8142
• sleepעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• or nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:16

• Ecclesiastes 8:7If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
• Ecclesiastes 7:25I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.
• Ecclesiastes 2:23Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 4:8There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.
• Ecclesiastes 5:12The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
• Genesis 31:40Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
• Psalms 127:2It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16When I applied mine heart to know wisdom - This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may study night and day, and deprive ourselves of rest and sleep, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the Divine government; but all is right and just. This is the state of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16These verses supplement Ecclesiastes 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will find that his finite intelligence cannot grasp it. Ecclesiastes 8:16 Business - Or, “travail” Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:10. The sleeplessness noted probably refers to the writer himself.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. 1616. Reply to Ec 8:14, 15. When I applied myself to observe man's toils after happiness (some of them so incessant as not to allow sufficient time for "sleep"), then (Ec 8:17, the apodosis) I saw that man cannot find out (the reason of) God's inscrutable dealings with the "just" and with the "wicked" here (Ec 8:14; Ec 3:11; Job 5:9; Ro 11:33); his duty is to acquiesce in them as good, because they are God's, though he sees not all the reasons for them (Psa…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:16

• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Business
• Synagogue, the Great
• Wisdom

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