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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:13

11Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. 12Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done? I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. 14The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. 15Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is 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 and benefits those who see the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 9:16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
• Proverbs 4:5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
• Proverbs 16:16How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!
• Malachi 3:18And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
• Malachi 4:1“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
• Ecclesiastes 11:7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
• Psalms 119:105Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
• Proverbs 4:18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
• Matthew 6:23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
• Luke 11:7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
• Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of 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