New International Version
Ecclesiastes 1:16
16I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”
Ecclesiastes 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
- New King James Version (NKJV)I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.”
Context of Ecclesiastes 1:16
14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17Then 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. 18For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 1Ecclesiastes 1:16 word by word
דִּבַּ֨רְתִּי אֲנִ֤י עִם־לִבִּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֨ה הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙ חָכְמָ֔ה עַ֛ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלִבִּ֛י רָאָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה חָכְמָ֥ה וָדָֽעַת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I communedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- with mine own heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lo, I am come to great estateגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- and have gottenיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
- more wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- that have been beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- me in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- had greatרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
- experienceרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: examineH7200
- and knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:16
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Psalms 4:4Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
- Psalms 77:6I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
- Isaiah 10:7But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
- Jeremiah 22:14He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red.
- Ezekiel 38:10“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme.
- Daniel 4:30he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Ecclesiastes 2:9I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
- 1 Kings 3:12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
- 1 Kings 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 10:7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- 2 Chronicles 2:12And Hiram added: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment, who will build a temple for the Lord and a palace for himself.
- 2 Chronicles 9:22King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
- Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16I communed with mine own heart - Literally, "I spoke, I, with my heart, saying." When successful in my researches, but not happy in my soul, though easy in my circumstances, I entered into my own heart, and there inquired the cause of my discontent. He found that, though - He had gotten wisdom beyond all men; Wealth and honors more than any other; Practical wisdom more than all his predecessors; Had tried pleasure and animal gratification, even to their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16I am come - Rather, I have accumulated (literally “enlarged and added”) wisdom more than etc. They that have been - The reference is probably to the line of Canaanite kings who lived in Jerusalem before David took it, such as Melchizedek Genesis 14:18, Adonizedek Joshua 10:1, and Araunah 2 Samuel 24:23; or, it may be, to Solomon‘s contemporaries of his own country 1 Kings 4:31 and of other countries who visited him 1 Kings 4:34; 1 Kings 10:24. for…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. 1616. communed with ... heart--(Ge 24:45). come to great estate--Rather, "I have magnified and gotten" (literally, "added," increased), &c. all ... before me in Jerusalem--namely, the priests, judges, and two kings that preceded Solomon. His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Lu 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Mt 11:19; 12:42). had ... experience--literally, "had seen" (Jr 2:31). Contrast with…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:16
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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