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.”
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
- 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.”
- NASB I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
- 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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Preacher notes that he gained greater wisdom and knowledge than anyone before him in Jerusalem. Even unmatched wisdom, however, does not exempt him from life's vanity.
Overview
Qoheleth establishes his supreme qualifications, having surpassed all predecessors in wisdom and experience. This sets the stage for a sobering discovery: that even the highest human wisdom cannot conquer the emptiness he describes. His credentials make his honest verdict all the more weighty for the reader.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Eccl 2:9So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
- 1 Kgs 4:30Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kgs 10:7However I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
- 2 Chr 2:12Huram continued, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who would build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
- 1 Kgs 3:12–13behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
- Heb 5:14But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
- 2 Chr 1:10–12Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”
- Ps 4:4Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
- Jer 22:14who says, ‘I will build me a wide house and spacious rooms,’ and cuts out windows for himself; and it is ceiling with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
- 1 Kgs 10:23–24So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
- 2 Chr 9:22–23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
- Ezek 38:10–11Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
- 2 Kgs 5:20But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”
- Isa 10:7–14However he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.
- Dan 4:30The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
- Ps 77:6I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 1:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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