Ecclesiastes 9:13

Ecclesiastes 9:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
• New International Version (NIV)I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:
• English Standard Version (ESV)I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:13

11Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome them all. 12Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare – just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly. This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me: 14There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it. 15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.

Ecclesiastes 9:13 word by word

גַּם־זֹ֛ה רָאִ֥יתִי חָכְמָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisזֹהzôh · thisH2090
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• have I seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• also under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:13

• Ecclesiastes 6:1Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:
• Ecclesiastes 7:15During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.
• Ecclesiastes 8:16When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:13

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Or, Also this have I seen - wisdom under the sun, and great it seemed to me. From this verse to the end of Ecclesiastes 10, the writer inculcates, in a series of proverbs, wisdom in contrast to folly, as the best remedy in the present life to the evil of vanity.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-18This poor man's wise action was effective. Wisdom is better than power, strength, or weapons (see Ecclesiastes 4:13; 7:9, 19; 10:4). However, deserving people are not always honored, and even wise individuals are sometimes forgotten (see Ecclesiastes 2:16; 4:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Rather, "I have seen wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which is described in what follows [Maurer].Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:13

• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9

• 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