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 commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be joyful, and this will stand by him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16When I devoted my mind to know wisdom and to see the business which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that one cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though a person laboriously seeks, he will not discover; and even if the wise person claims to know, he cannot discover.

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

• and I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• oneאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• discoverמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• has been doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• underתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
• the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• Even thoughשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• laboriouslyעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• seeksבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• ifאִם'im · ifH518
• the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• claimsאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:17

• Ecclesiastes 3:11He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
• Ecclesiastes 7:23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but wisdom was far from me.
• Ecclesiastes 11:5Just as you do not know the path of the wind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything.
• Job 5:9Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.
• Job 11:7“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
• Psalms 40:5Many, Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is no one to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.
• Psalms 73:16When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight
• Psalms 104:24Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.
• Proverbs 30:3Nor have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
• Isaiah 40:28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable.
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable 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