Ecclesiastes 2:13

Ecclesiastes 2:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
• New International Version (NIV)I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:13

11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.” 12Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done? I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness: 14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both. 15So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself, “The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”

Ecclesiastes 2:13 word by word

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• thatיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• excellethיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• follyסִכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• as far as lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
• Ecclesiastes 9:16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.
• Proverbs 4:5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
• Proverbs 16:16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
• Malachi 3:18Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
• Malachi 4:1(3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It will not leave even a root or branch.
• Ecclesiastes 11:7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.
• Psalms 119:105Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.
• Proverbs 4:18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
• Matthew 6:23But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
• Luke 11:7Then he will reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’
• Ephesians 5:8for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly - Though in none of these pursuits I found the supreme good, the happiness my soul longed after; yet I could easily perceive that wisdom excelled the others, as far as light excels darkness. And he immediately subjoins the reasons.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14wisdom exceeds folly: Wisdom is useful because it helps navigate life successfully. However, it cannot prevent death or give life meaning (Ecclesiastes 2:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. (Pr 17:24). The worldly "wise" man has good sense in managing his affairs, skill and taste in building and planting, and keeps within safe and respectable bounds in pleasure, while the "fool" is wanting in these respects ("darkness," equivalent to fatal error, blind infatuation), yet one event, death, happens to both (Job 21:26).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:13

• Light
• Pleasure
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings