So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.
Parallel translations
- WEB So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
- KJV So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
- NKJV So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
- NASB Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.
- NLT So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me.
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
He became greater than all before him, yet his wisdom remained with him. He achieved supreme greatness while still retaining clear judgment.
Overview
Qoheleth emphasizes that his vast success did not cloud his discernment; he observed it all wisely. This combination of unmatched greatness and retained wisdom makes his assessment trustworthy. The verse heightens the tension: the wisest, greatest man is about to declare that all of it amounts to vanity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Chr 29:25The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as had not been bestowed on any king in Israel before him.
- Eccl 1:16I 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.”
- 1 Kgs 10:23So 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.
- 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 1:1Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.
- 1 Kgs 3:12behold, 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.
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 2:9 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
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.