Ecclesiastes 7:11
in Ecclesiastes 7Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
KJV
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 7
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the advantage of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to those that have it. "A wise man with riches has more glory than just a wise man alone. For some men need wisdom, some wealth, but he who is both wise and not rich is able to teach what is good, but meanwhile he can't show what is to be sought.
This site's exposition
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good
on Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom and money are a shelter, but knowledge holds an advantage: wisdom preserves the life of its owner. The book has called riches a gift of God at 5:19, and here it ranks wisdom above them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Furthermore, Ecclesiastes seven: Wisdom is more useful with riches: Gloss: "than alone"; but riches do not make a man perfect: therefore much less do poverty and want.
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
And the reason for this is: because he does not consider the usefulness of wealth, therefore he teaches how to discern it, saying: "Wisdom is more useful with riches," because Proverbs 13: "The riches of a man are the redemption of his soul." "And it …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Wisdom is good with an inheritance,.... It is good of itself. Or, "is as good as an inheritance" (n), as it may be rendered; it is a portion of itself, especially spiritual and divine wisdom.
Good - When wisdom and riches meet in one man, it is an happy conjunction. By it - By wisdom joined with riches there comes great benefit. To them - Not only to a man's self, but many others in this world.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And by it there is profit ... - literally, And is profitable to the living. The same word as in Ecc 6:11, to the question in which it looks like an answer.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Rather, "Wisdom, as compared with an inheritance, is good," that is, is as good as an inheritance; "yea, better (literally, and a profit) to them that see the sun" (that is, the living, Ec 11:7;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Wisdom is good with an inheritance - In this chapter Solomon introduces many observations which appear to be made by objectors against his doctrine; and as he was satisfied of their futility, he proposes them in their own full strength, and then combats and destroys them. It is quite necessary to attend to this; else we shall take the objector’s words for those of Solomon; and think, as some have done, that the wise man contradicts and refutes himself. Observations, reflections, and objections of friends and adversaries are frequently introduced in the works of ancient authors, without mentioning them as such. This is frequent, more particularly in ethic writers; and we have many specimens in Horace, and without this distinction, it would be impossible to make sense of some of his writings. Here, an objector who had listened to the wise man declaiming in favor of wisdom, suddenly interrupts him, and says in effect, “I grant the truth of what you have said. Wisdom is very good in its place; but what is it without property? A man who has a good inheritance may be profited by wisdom, because it will show him how to manage it to the best advantage.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
It is good to have wisdom, etc. Their wisdom stood for them together with the heritage of the merit of their forefathers, for wisdom is good. 30 Alternatively, נחלה refers to a monetary inheritance or a skill that is handed down from father to son (Ibn Ezra).
3 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Do not say, was it that the former days, etc. Do not wonder about the goodness that was bestowed upon the righteous men of yore, such as the generation of the wilderness, the generation of Yehoshua and the generation of Dovid.
For wisdom shelters [as well] as money shelters. Whoever is in the shade of wisdom is in the shade of money, for wisdom causes eventual wealth.
In the time of oppression, say not what was before now was good in the world; for the former days were better, and the men of that generation had better doings than these, therefore good came to them; and thou askest not according to wisdom about this.
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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| טוֹבָ֥ה | tovah | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| חָכְמָ֖ה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| עִֽם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| נַחֲלָ֑ה | nachalah | an inheritance | H5159 → | |
| וְיֹתֵ֖ר | veyoter | and [is] an advantage | H3148 → | 9 times |
| לְרֹאֵ֥י | leroei | to [those who] see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ | hashamesh | <of> the sun | H8121 → | 134 times |
טוֹבָ֥ה[is] good
tovahH2896 →538 times
חָכְמָ֖הwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
עִֽם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
נַחֲלָ֑הan inheritance
nachalahH5159 →
וְיֹתֵ֖רand [is] an advantage
veyoterH3148 →9 times
לְרֹאֵ֥יto [those who] see
leroeiH7200 →1300 times
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃<of> the sun
hashameshH8121 →134 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
Ecclesiastes 11:7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
- Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
- Psalms 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
- Job 33:30
to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
- Proverbs 29:13
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
- Matthew 5:45
Through
Ecclesiastes 2:13And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Ecclesiastes 7:11–12
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 11:7
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
- Ephesians 5:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 10 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, Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 2; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes; 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 John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.