Ecclesiastes 8:16
in Ecclesiastes 8When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),
KJV
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 8
Commentary
10 notes on this verseWhen I applied mine heart to know wisdom - This is the reply of the wise man: “I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may study night and day, and deprive ourselves of rest and sleep, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the Divine government; but all is right and just.
This site's exposition
When I applied my mind to know wisdom
on Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
The Teacher describes his most strenuous inquiry, to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth. A man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"When I applied my heart to see wisdom and work which takes place on earth- for even day or night its eyes see no sleep. And I perceived all the work of God. Indeed man cannot fathom the events that occur under the sun, inasmuch as man tries strenuously to search, but cannot fathom it. And even though a wise man should presume to know, he cannot know it.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
It has been shown how the vanity of security arises from the exaltation of the wicked and also from the oppression of the good. Here it is shown thirdly how it arises from the indistinction of the one group and the other. For because the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
To see - To observe mens various designs and employments, and their unwearied labours about worldly things. For there is - Having now mentioned the business which is done, or which man doth, upon earth, he further adds, as an evidence of man's eagerness in pursuing his business, for even by day and by night he (the busy man) seeth not sleep with his eyes.
Some think Solomon speaks of himself, that he was so eager in prosecuting this great enquiry that he could not sleep for thinking of it. That it was all labour in vain,
3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Ro 11:33); his duty is to acquiesce in them as good, because they are God's, though he sees not all the reasons for them (Ps 73:16). It is enough to know "the righteous are in God's hand" (Ec 9:1).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
These verses supplement Ecc 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will find that his finite intelligence cannot grasp it. Ecc 8:16 Business - Or, “travail” Ecc 1:13; Ecc 3:10. The sleeplessness noted probably refers to the writer himself.
The words behind it
21 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר | kaasher | <just> when | H834 → | 5497 times |
| נָתַ֤תִּי | natati | I gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לִבִּי֙ | libi | heart my | H3820 → | 595 times |
| לָדַ֣עַת | ladaat | to know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| חָכְמָ֔ה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| וְלִרְאוֹת֙ | velirot | and to see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן | hainyan | the task | H6045 → | 8 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| נַעֲשָׂ֖ה | naasah | it is done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאָ֑רֶץ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| גַ֤ם | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| בַּיּוֹם֙ | baiyom | in <the> day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה | uvalaylah | and in <the> night | H3915 → | |
| שֵׁנָ֕ה | shenah | sleep | H8142 → | |
| בְּעֵינָ֖יו | beeinav | in view his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| אֵינֶ֥נּוּ | ʾeinenu | not he | H369 → | 789 times |
| רֹאֶֽה׃ | roeh | [is] seeing | H7200 → | 1300 times |
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר<just> when
kaasherH834 →5497 times
נָתַ֤תִּיI gave
natatiH5414 →2011 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
לִבִּי֙heart my
libiH3820 →595 times
לָדַ֣עַתto know
ladaatH3045 →945 times
חָכְמָ֔הwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
וְלִרְאוֹת֙and to see
velirotH7200 →1300 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ןthe task
hainyanH6045 →8 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
נַעֲשָׂ֖הit is done
naasahH6213 →2628 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הָאָ֑רֶץthe earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
גַ֤םalso
gamH1571 →769 times
בַּיּוֹם֙in <the> day
baiyomH3117 →2304 times
וּבַלַּ֔יְלָהand in <the> night
uvalaylahH3915 →
שֵׁנָ֕הsleep
shenahH8142 →
בְּעֵינָ֖יוin view his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
אֵינֶ֥נּוּnot he
ʾeinenuH369 →789 times
רֹאֶֽה׃[is] seeing
roehH7200 →1300 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 127:2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.
- Psalms 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
- Job 11:18
You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
- Psalms 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
- Jeremiah 31:26
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.
- Ecclesiastes 5:12
Through
Ecclesiastes 1:13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.
- Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:10
Through
Ecclesiastes 2:23Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
it leads to
- Job 14:1
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
- Job 14:1
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.