Ecclesiastes 1:17

Ecclesiastes 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
• New International Version (NIV)Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Context of Ecclesiastes 1:17

15What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied. 16I thought to myself, “I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.” So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind! 18For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 word by word

וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֔ה וְדַ֥עַת הוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת יָדַ֕עְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֥ה ה֖וּא רַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• madnessהוֹלֵלָהhôlêlâh · madnessH1947
• and follyשִׂכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• that thisגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• also is vexationרַעְיוֹןra‛yôn · strivingH7475
• of spiritרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Ecclesiastes 1:13I 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.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.
• Ecclesiastes 7:23I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.
• Ecclesiastes 2:10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17To know madness and folly - ושכלות הוללות holloth vesichluth . , "Parables and science." - Septuagint. So the Syriac; nearly so the Arabic. "What were error and foolishness." - Coverdale. Perhaps gayety and sobriety may be the better meaning for these two difficult words. I can scarcely think they are taken in that bad sense in which our translation exhibits them. "I tried pleasure in all its forms; and sobriety and self-abnegation to their utmost…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17To know madness and folly - A knowledge of folly would help him to discern wisdom, and to exercise that chief function of practical wisdom - to avoid folly.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. 1717. wisdom ... madness--that is, their effects, the works of human wisdom and folly respectively. "Madness," literally, "vaunting extravagance"; Ec 2:12; 7:25, &c., support English Version rather than Dathe, "splendid matters." "Folly" is read by English Version with some manuscripts, instead of the present Hebrew text, "prudence." If Hebrew be retained, understand "prudence," falsely so called (1Ti 6:20), "craft" (Da 8:25).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Instruction
• Investigation
• Pleasure
• Science

In the dictionaries

• Madness
• Sun
• Vanity
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Synagogue, the Great
• fool, foolish, folly

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