Ecclesiastes 2:9
in Ecclesiastes 2So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom 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.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 2
Commentary
7 notes on this verse"Thus I grew and surpassed any of my predecessors in Jerusalem; still, my wisdom stayed with me." It seems to me that Ecclesiastes, acting grandly, agrees less with the Lord, unless by chance we adapt this to him: "He [Jesus] increased in wisdom and age and grace" [Luc. 2, 52.]. And, "on account of which God took him on high [Phil. 2, 9.]".
This site's exposition
So I became great
on Ecclesiastes 2:9-11
The Teacher records that he became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me, and adds that my wisdom remained with me. Then the ledger closes: I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
The wise person always finds himself "increasing" when he prospers. But in life, it is the last and the first thing to reach perfection. In Scripture it is said, "When human beings have finished, they are just beginning." Of course, even if human beings reach …
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"And I surpassed in riches" etc. Here the second point is touched upon, namely the power to accomplish, because a poor man, even if he could begin such artful delights, could not however bring them to completion: but he himself could, being rich. Therefore he …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But thus far his wisdom remained with him that he was master of his pleasures, and not a slave to them, and kept himself capable of making a judgment of them.
So I was great,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
1Co 12:2); or, one "allured" (2Pe 2:18, 19). yet acquainting . . . wisdom--literally, "and my heart (still) was behaving, or guiding itself," with wisdom [GESENIUS]. MAURER translates: "was weary of (worldly) wisdom." But the end of Ec 2:9 confirms English Version. folly--namely, pleasures of the flesh, termed "mad," Ec 2:2. all the days, &c.--(See Margin and Ec 6:12;
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
I did not deny. I did not distance myself to separate from them, and similarly, “and He held back some of the spirit [that was upon him] and he gave it unto.. the elders,” 13 Bamidbar:25.
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. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי | vegadalti | and I became great | H1431 → | 117 times |
| וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי | vehosafti | and I increased | H3254 → | 212 times |
| מִכֹּ֛ל | mikol | more than any | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| שֶׁהָיָ֥ה | shehayah | who <he> was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לְפָנַ֖י | lefanai | <to> before me | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| אַ֥ף | ʾaf | also | H637 → | |
| חָכְמָתִ֖י | chakhemati | wisdom my | H2451 → | 153 times |
| עָ֥מְדָה | ʾamedah | it remained | H5975 → | 521 times |
| לִּֽי׃ | li | to <the> me |
וְגָדַ֣לְתִּיand I became great
vegadaltiH1431 →117 times
וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּיand I increased
vehosaftiH3254 →212 times
מִכֹּ֛לmore than any
mikolH3605 →5413 times
שֶׁהָיָ֥הwho <he> was
shehayahH1961 →3559 times
לְפָנַ֖י<to> before me
lefanaiH6440 →2123 times
בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םin Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 times
אַ֥ףalso
ʾafH637 →
חָכְמָתִ֖יwisdom my
chakhematiH2451 →153 times
עָ֥מְדָהit remained
ʾamedahH5975 →521 times
לִּֽי׃to <the> me
li
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
1 Kings 10:23So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 3:12–13
behold, 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Kings 3:12–13
Through
Ecclesiastes 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.”
it leads to
- 1 Kings 4:30
Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 10:7
But 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…
- 1 Kings 4:30
Through
1 Chronicles 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.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 1:12
therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:1
Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.
- 1 Kings 3:13
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
- 2 Chronicles 1:12
Through
1 Kings 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…
it leads to
- John 20:25–29
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put…
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- John 20:25–29
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES 42:24; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.