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.”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- 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.
- 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 became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.
- 1 Kgs 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kgs 10:7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.
- 2 Chr 2:12And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
- 1 Kgs 3:12–13behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
- Heb 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
- 2 Chr 1:10–12Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- Ps 4:4Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah
- Jer 22:14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.
- 1 Kgs 10:23–24So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
- 2 Chr 9:22–23So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
- Ezek 38:10–11This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- 2 Kgs 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Isa 10:7–14But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
- Dan 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Ps 77:6At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.