New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 1:12
12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- New International Version (NIV)I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Context of Ecclesiastes 1:12
10Is there anything about which someone can say, “Look at this! It is new!”? It was already done long ago, before our time. 11No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations. I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied. 14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile – like chasing the wind!
Read all of Ecclesiastes 1Ecclesiastes 1:12 word by word
אֲנִ֣י קֹהֶ֗לֶת הָיִ֥יתִי מֶ֛לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:12
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I the Preacher was king - This is a strange verse, and does not admit of an easy solution. It is literally, "I, Choheleth, have been king over Israel, in Jerusalem." This book, as we have already seen, has been conjectured by some to have been written about the time that Ptolemy Philadelphus formed his great library at Alexandria, about two hundred and eighty-five years before our Lard; and from the multitude of Jews that dwelt there, and resorted to that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Solomon relates his personal experience Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. Was - This tense does not imply that Solomon had ceased to be king when the word was written. See the introduction to Ecclesiastes. He begins with the time of his accession to the throne, when the gifts of wisdom and riches were especially promised to him 1 Kings 3:12-13.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. 1212. Resumption of Ec 1:1, the intermediate verses being the introductory statement of his thesis. Therefore, "the Preacher" (Koheleth) is repeated. was king--instead of "am," because he is about to give the results of his past experience during his long reign. in Jerusalem--specified, as opposed to David, who reigned both in Hebron and Jerusalem; whereas Solomon reigned only in Jerusalem. "King of Israel in Jerusalem," implies that he reigned over Israel…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:12
In the dictionaries
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
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