Ecclesiastes 7:24

Ecclesiastes 7:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
• English Standard Version (ESV)That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
• New King James Version (NKJV)As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:24

22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others. 23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, “I am determined to be wise”— but this was beyond me. Whatever exists is far off and most profound— who can discover it? 25So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. 26I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.

Ecclesiastes 7:24 word by word

רָח֖וֹק מַה־שֶּׁהָיָ֑ה וְעָמֹ֥ק׀ עָמֹ֖ק מִ֥י יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• That which is far offרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
• and exceeding deepעָמֹק‛âmôq · deepH6013
• who can find it outמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:24

• Deuteronomy 30:11Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
• Job 11:7“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
• Job 28:12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
• Psalms 36:6Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
• Psalms 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
• Isaiah 55:8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24That which is far off - Though the wisdom that is essential to our salvation may be soon learned, through the teaching of the Spirit of wisdom, yet in wisdom itself there are extents and depths which none can reach or fathom.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24literally, Far off is that which hath been i. e., events as they have occurred in the order of Divine Providence), and deep, deep, who can find it out?Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-29Verses 23-29 Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godly sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He now discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he had been guilty, the loving many strange women, I Kin. 11:1. A woman thoroughly upright and godly, he had not found. How was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-25it was beyond me: The Teacher could not find the wisdom or reasons he sought. Such reasons are hidden in God's mind (Ecclesiastes 3:11; 8:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. That ... far off ... deep--True wisdom is so when sought independently of "fear of God" (Ec 7:18; De 30:12, 13; Job 11:7, 8; 28:12-20, 28; Psa 64:6; Ro 10:6, 7).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:24

• Ignorance
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• 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