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Ecclesiastes 8:17

in Ecclesiastes 8

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

KJV

Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

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This verse in Ecclesiastes 8

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.

Therefore he adds: And I understood that man can find no reason for all the works of God, of those works, namely, which are done under the sun: Sirach 43: "Do not labor, for you will not comprehend." And the more he has labored to …

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.

This site's exposition

every work of God

Clarke sets out three steps: the work is beyond finding, effort to search it out fails, and the wise man's claim to know fails too. Wesley counsels submission to God's providence and enjoyment of His blessing over endless inquiry. Henry calls God's judgments a great deep.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Written before 420.

proposed

"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 Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Find out - No man, though ever so wise, is able fully and perfectly to understand these things. And therefore it is best for man not to perplex himself with endless enquiries, but quietly to submit to God's will and providence, and to live in the fear of God, and the comfortable enjoyment of his blessing.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Nay, [3.] Though he be very confident of success, though he think to know it, yet he shall not; he cannot find it out. God's ways are above ours, nor is he tied to his own former ways, but his judgments are a great deep.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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,

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

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

2 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Then I beheld all the work of God,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun - I saw it to be of such a nature - 1. That a man cannot find it out. 2. That if he labor to find it out, he shall not succeed. 3. That though he be wise - the most instructed among men, and think to find it out, he shall find he is not able. It is beyond the wisdom and power of man. How vain then are all your cavils about Providence.

The words behind it

31 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • וְרָאִיתִי֮and I saw

    veraitiH7200 →1300 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה[the] work of

    maasehH4639 →236 times

  • הָאֱלֹהִים֒<the> God

    haelohimH430 →2601 times

  • כִּי֩that

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • לֹ֨אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יוּכַ֜לhe is able

    yukhalH3201 →194 times

  • הָאָדָ֗ם<the> humankind

    haadamH120 →551 times

  • לִמְצוֹא֙to find out

    limtzo'H4672 →455 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙the work

    hamaasehH4639 →236 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • נַעֲשָׂ֣הit is done

    naasahH6213 →2628 times

  • תַֽחַת־under

    tachat-H8478 →505 times

  • הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁthe sun

    hashemeshH8121 →134 times

  • בְּ֠שֶׁלin that <to>

    beshel

  • אֲשֶׁ֨רthat

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • יַעֲמֹ֧לhe toils

    yaamolH5998 →11 times

  • הָאָדָ֛ם<the> humankind

    haadamH120 →551 times

  • לְבַקֵּ֖שׁto seek

    levakeshH1245 →225 times

  • וְלֹ֣אand not

    velo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יִמְצָ֑אhe will find out

    yimtza'H4672 →455 times

  • וְגַ֨םand also

    vegamH1571 →769 times

  • אִם־if

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • יֹאמַ֤רhe will say

    yomarH559 →5305 times

  • הֶֽחָכָם֙the wise [person]

    hechakhamH2450 →138 times

  • לָדַ֔עַתto know

    ladaatH3045 →945 times

  • לֹ֥אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יוּכַ֖לhe will be able

    yukhalH3201 →194 times

  • לִמְצֹֽא׃to find out

    limtzo'H4672 →455 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ecclesiastes 3:11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.34 worksEcclesiastes 11:5As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.16 worksPsalms 73:16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight6 worksRomans 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!5 worksJob 5:9the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.4 worksIsaiah 40:28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.4 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ecclesiastes 7:23–24All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.4 worksJob 11:7–9Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?3 worksProverbs 30:3–4I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.3 worksPsalms 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.3 worksJob 37:7He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.3 worksMark 4:27Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.3 worksPsalms 104:24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Romans 11:33

    O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

    it leads to

    • Job 11:7–9

      Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Job 5:9

      the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    Isaiah 40:28

    Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching…

    it leads to

    • Romans 11:33–34

      O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

    • Psalms 147:5

      Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

    • 1 Timothy 1:17

      Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

  • Through

    Ecclesiastes 3:11

    He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

    it leads to

    • Romans 11:33

      O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

    • Romans 1:19–20

      For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

    • Job 11:7

      Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Where this verse is studied

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
King Solomon in Old Age, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read Ecclesiastes 8 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8; 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.

Read on in Ecclesiastes 8 →