Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

Context

Futility of Secular Wisdom

1:16 I thought to myself,¹

“I have become much wiser² than any of my predecessors who ruled³ over Jerusalem;⁴

I⁵ have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”⁶

1:17 So I decided⁷ to discern the benefit of⁸ wisdom and knowledge over⁹ foolish behavior and ideas;¹⁰

however, I concluded¹¹ that even¹² this endeavor¹³ is like¹⁴ trying to chase the wind!¹⁵

1:18 For with great wisdom comes¹⁶ great frustration;

whoever increases his¹⁷ knowledge merely¹⁸ increases his¹⁹ heartache.

[1:16] ¹tn Heb “I spoke, I, with my heart.”

[1:16] ²tn Heb “I, look, I have made great and increased wisdom.” The expression הִגְדַּלְתִּי וְהוֹסַפְתִּי (higdalti vÿhosafti) is a verbal hendiadys; it means that Qoheleth had become the wisest man in the history of Jerusalem.

[1:16] ³tn The phrase “who ruled” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:16] ⁴map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:16] ⁵tn Heb “my heart” (לִבִּי, libbi). The term “heart” is a metonymy of part for the whole (“my heart” = myself).

[1:16] ⁶tn Heb “My heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.”

[1:17] ⁷tn Heb “gave my heart,” or “set my mind.” See v. 13.

[1:17] ⁸tn The phrase “the benefit of” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17] ⁹tn The word “over” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17] ¹⁰tn The terms שִׂכְלוּת (sikhlut, “folly”) and הוֹלֵלוֹת (holelot, “foolishness”) are synonyms. The term שִׂכְלוּת (alternate spelling of סִכְלוּת, sikhlut) refers to foolish behavior (HALOT 755 s.v. סִכְלוּת), while הוֹלֵלוֹת refers to foolish ideas and mental blindness (HALOT 242 s.v. הוֹלֵלוֹת). Qoheleth uses these terms to refer to foolish ideas and self-indulgent pleasures (e.g., Eccl 2:2-3, 12-14; 7:25; 9:3; 10:1, 6, 13).

[1:17] ¹¹tn Heb “I know.”

[1:17] ¹²tn The term גַּם (gam, “even”) is a particle of association and emphasis (HALOT 195 s.v. גַּם).

[1:17] ¹³tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17] ¹⁴tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17] ¹⁵tn Heb “striving of wind.”

[1:18] ¹⁶tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:18] ¹⁷tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:18] ¹⁸tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:18] ¹⁹tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.