And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Parallel translations
- WEB Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
- BSB Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- NKJV And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.
- NASB In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- NLT Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying 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
An epilogue begins, commending the Preacher as a wise teacher who carefully studied and arranged many proverbs. It assures readers his words are the fruit of diligent wisdom.
Overview
A concluding voice commends the Preacher, noting that beyond his own reflections he taught the people, weighing, investigating, and ordering many proverbs. This shows that the wisdom of Ecclesiastes is not careless musing but disciplined, God-given instruction meant for the community. Such faithful teaching anticipates Christ, the embodiment of God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30), who taught the people the truth that leads to life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Kgs 4:32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
- Prov 25:1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
- Prov 1:1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
- 1 Kgs 10:8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
- 1 Kgs 8:12–21Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 12:9 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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