Ecclesiastes 1:17

Ecclesiastes 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
• New International Version (NIV)Then 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Context of Ecclesiastes 1:17

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is lacking cannot be numbered. 16I spoke to my own heart, saying, Lo, I have come to great estate, and have gained more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 word by word

וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֔ה וְדַ֥עַת הוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת יָדַ֕עְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֥ה ה֖וּא רַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

• gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• madnessהוֹלֵלָהhôlêlâh · madnessH1947
• follyשִׂכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• thisגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• vexationרַעְיוֹןra‛yôn · strivingH7475
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Ecclesiastes 1:13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this grievous labour hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
• Ecclesiastes 7:23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21Examine all things; hold fast that which is good.
• Ecclesiastes 2:10And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17To know madness and folly - ושכלות הוללות holloth vesichluth . , "Parables and science." - Septuagint. So the Syriac; nearly so the Arabic. "What were error and foolishness." - Coverdale. Perhaps gayety and sobriety may be the better meaning for these two difficult words. I can scarcely think they are taken in that bad sense in which our translation exhibits them. "I tried pleasure in all its forms; and sobriety and self-abnegation to their utmost…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17To know madness and folly - A knowledge of folly would help him to discern wisdom, and to exercise that chief function of practical wisdom - to avoid folly.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. 1717. wisdom ... madness--that is, their effects, the works of human wisdom and folly respectively. "Madness," literally, "vaunting extravagance"; Ec 2:12; 7:25, &c., support English Version rather than Dathe, "splendid matters." "Folly" is read by English Version with some manuscripts, instead of the present Hebrew text, "prudence." If Hebrew be retained, understand "prudence," falsely so called (1Ti 6:20), "craft" (Da 8:25).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:17

• Instruction
• Investigation
• Pleasure
• Science

In the dictionaries

• Madness
• Sun
• Vanity
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Synagogue, the Great
• fool, foolish, folly

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