Bible/Ecclesiastes/1

Ecclesiastes 1:16

1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. that which is wanting: Heb. defect
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. had: Heb. had seen much

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I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

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.

I communed with my own heart, saying, See, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

What does Ecclesiastes 1:16 mean?

Ecclesiastes 1:16 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include דָבַר (dâbar), לֵב (lêb), אָמַר (ʼâmar). It connects to 1 cross-referenced passage elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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I
communedדָבַרdâbar/daw-bar'/H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
with
mine
own
heart,לֵבlêb/labe/H3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
saying,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
Lo,
I
am
come
to
great
estate,גָּדַלgâdal/gaw-dal'/H1431to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
and
have
gottenיָסַףyâçaph/yaw-saf'/H3254to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
more
wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh/khok-maw'/H2451wisdom (in a good sense)
than
all
they
that
have
been
beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
me
in
Jerusalem:יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaim/yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im/H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
yea,
my
heartלֵבlêb/labe/H3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
had
greatרָבָהrâbâh/raw-baw'/H7235to increase (in whatever respect)
experienceרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
of
wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh/khok-maw'/H2451wisdom (in a good sense)
and
knowledge.דַּעַתdaʻath/dah'-ath/H1847knowledge
had:
Heb.
had
seen
much

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:16

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 1:16
of one psalm and some out of another, and to put them together, to be sung to the glory of God. In singing this psalm we must give glory to God and take comfort to ourselves. Directions for Praising God. 1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 3 I will praise thee, O Lord , among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; We may here learn how to praise God from the example of one who was master of the art. 1. We must praise God with fixedness of heart. Our heart must be employed in the duty (else we make nothing of it) and engage

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Judges 5:12

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

Topics

InvestigationScienceSolomon

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 1:16.

1 Kings 10:23

So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

Exodus 28:3

And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exodus 31:6

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Exodus 9:34

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:29

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed

Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 17:3

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 1:16 say?

Ecclesiastes 1:16 (King James Version) reads: "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. had: Heb. had seen much"

Is Ecclesiastes 1:16 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 1:16 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 1:16, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Ecclesiastes 1:16
1:15Read all of Ecclesiastes 11:17