Ecclesiastes 12:9
in Ecclesiastes 12Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 12
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBecause the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge - And in order to do this he took good heed - considered what would be most useful. He set in order - collected and arranged, many parables, probably alluding to the book over which we have already passed.
This site's exposition
Not only was the Teacher wise
on Ecclesiastes 12:9-12
The epilogue steps back to commend the Teacher: he searched to find delightful sayings. The words of the wise are like goads, prodding, and like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd, holding. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"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. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In this epilogue, first the diligence of the writer is noted, because, since he was wise, he did not hide his wisdom but declared it to others. Therefore he says: "And since Ecclesiastes was most wise": 3 Kings 4: "The wisdom of Solomon surpassed the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And moreover,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
There must then have been auditories assembled to hear the inspired wisdom of the Preacher. See the explanation of Koheleth in the Introduction, and chapter 1 (1Ki 4:34). that which is written, &c.--rather, (he sought) "to write down uprightly (or, 'aright') words of truth" [HOLDEN and WEISS].
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Koheles sought. He set his heart and sought the matter and found it.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
10. King Solomon, who was called Kohelet, tried in his wisdom to judge people according to the thoughts of their hearts (minds) without witnesses. Therefore, it was told to him by the spirit of prophecy from 'ה, this is already written in the Torah by Moses the teacher of Israel-- proper are the words and true: "By the word of witnesses shall the matter be established."
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְיֹתֵ֕ר | veyoter | and besides | H3148 → | 9 times |
| שֶׁהָיָ֥ה | shehayah | that he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| קֹהֶ֖לֶת | kohelet | Teacher | H6953 → | 7 times |
| חָכָ֑ם | chakham | wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| ע֗וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| לִמַּד־ | limad- | he taught | H3925 → | |
| דַּ֙עַת֙ | daat | knowledge | H1847 → | 92 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָעָ֔ם | haam | the people | H5971 → | |
| וְאִזֵּ֣ן | veizen | and he weighed | H239 → | |
| וְחִקֵּ֔ר | vechiker | and he searched out | H2713 → | |
| תִּקֵּ֖ן | tiken | he arranged in order | H8626 → | 3 times |
| מְשָׁלִ֥ים | meshalim | proverbs | H4912 → | |
| הַרְבֵּֽה׃ | harbeh | [surely] a multitude | H7235 → | 227 times |
וְיֹתֵ֕רand besides
veyoterH3148 →9 times
שֶׁהָיָ֥הthat he was
shehayahH1961 →3559 times
קֹהֶ֖לֶתTeacher
koheletH6953 →7 times
חָכָ֑םwise
chakhamH2450 →138 times
ע֗וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
לִמַּד־he taught
limad-H3925 →
דַּ֙עַת֙knowledge
daatH1847 →92 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָעָ֔םthe people
haamH5971 →
וְאִזֵּ֣ןand he weighed
veizenH239 →
וְחִקֵּ֔רand he searched out
vechikerH2713 →
תִּקֵּ֖ןhe arranged in order
tikenH8626 →3 times
מְשָׁלִ֥יםproverbs
meshalimH4912 →
הַרְבֵּֽה׃[surely] a multitude
harbehH7235 →227 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
Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
it leads to
- Proverbs 1:1
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- Proverbs 29:3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Proverbs 23:15–16
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
- Proverbs 1:1
Through
Proverbs 1:1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- 1 Chronicles 22:9
But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and…
- Proverbs 10:1
Through
1 Kings 10:8How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
it leads to
- Proverbs 8:34
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
- Proverbs 8:34
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).