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Ecclesiastes 1:16

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Ecclesiastes 1:16

Verse 16 of 18

Scripture focus

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.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:16

Theological / Devotional

I communed. An emphatic statement in the Hebrew, implying personal meditation, as opposed to talking things over with another person.

I am come. Literally, “I have caused to become,” in reference to the discipline of his faculties in work and study and to the resulting growth in knowledge and experience.

Gotten more wisdom. Or, “caught up wisdom.”

In Jerusalem. More exactly, “over Jerusalem,” that is, “over” the city as its rulers. This refers to wise men and rulers before Solomon’s day.

Had great experience. The Hebrew verb translated “had” is the same one given as “seen” in v. 14: literally, “saw [received a keen insight into] much,” that is, “of wisdom and knowledge.” The LXX renders “wisdom” by a word denoting ethical and moral values, and “knowledge” by one that means the speculative side of mental effort.

By SdaBc