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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Ecclesiastes 2:14-16

ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON Ecclesiastes 2:14 Wisdom is infinitely better than folly, but the wise and the foolish both die. To make matters still worse, even the wise are usually forgotten after their death.

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See also Ecclesiastes 2:14-16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 14. _THE WISE MAN'S EYES, C._] Well expressed by _Choheleth_: - "The wise are circumspect, maturely weigh The consequence of what they undertake, Good ends propose, and fittest means apply T...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Solomon having found that wisdom and folly agree in being subject to vanity, now contrasts one with the other Ecclesiastes 2:13. Both are brought under vanity by events Ecclesiastes 2:14 which come on...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 2THE RESULTS OF THE SEARCH AND DIFFERENT VANITIES _ 1. His personal experience (Ecclesiastes 2:1)_ 2. Various vanities and a conclusion (Ecclesiastes 2:12) Ecclesiastes 2:1

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Qoheleth turns to the study of human nature in its wisdom and its folly. Though all is vanity yet wisdom is better than folly; it is better to face the outlook, dreary though it be, with intelligence,...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 1:12 TO ECCLESIASTES 2:26. QOHELETH'S INVESTIGATIONS. Assuming the character of Solomon the writer tells of his search for happiness under many forms. The pursuit of wisdom (Ecclesiastes...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FOOL. Hebrew. _kesil_. fat, inert. Same word as in verses: Ecclesiastes 2:15; Ecclesiastes 2:16. not the same word as in Ecclesiastes 2:19. AND. MYSELF PERCEIVED. and. too knew: i.e. as w

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _The wise man's eyes are in his head_ The figurative language is so much of the nature of an universal parable that we need hardly look to any special source for it, but we are at least reminded of th...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE VANITY OF LIVING WISELY -- ECCLESIASTES 2:12-17:_ Solomon reflected on what a common man could do to find true happiness when he, with all his resources, had not been able to do so._ _ He could o...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. Conclusions Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 a. Value of this wisdom and pleasure stop at the grave. Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 TEXT 2:12-17 12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly, for what will the...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. WISDOM EXCELLETH FOLLY ... AS LIGHT EXCELLETH DARKNESS ... THE FOOL WALKETH IN DARKNESS - (.) The worldly "wise" man has...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    2:14 fool (a-11) _ Kesil_ , and so generally in this Book, in which _ Eveel_ is not used. see Proverbs 1:7 ; Proverbs 18:2 ; Proverbs 26:1 ;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _Are_ IN HIS HEAD] Unlike the fool, the wise man can see what and where to choose....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EPICUREANISM AND WISDOM ALIKE PROFITLESS 1-3. The writer makes enjoyment his quest, while aware that it is folly, and avoiding excess in a philosophic spirit....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 2 THE TEST TO DISCOVER WHAT MAKES A PERSON HAPPY – ECCLESIASTES 2:1-11...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    EVENT. — Translated “hap,” or “chance” (Ruth 2:13; 1 Samuel 6:9; 1 Samuel 20:26)....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הֶֽ חָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּ רֹאשֹׁ֔ו וְ הַ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    24-26, VAIN UNDERTAKINGS Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 At the beginning of his search for happiness Solomon erected a splendid home and planned all kinds of delights of an artistic and sensuous nature. There w...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Turning from the pursuit of knowledge to the pathway of pleasure, the king had given himself up to mirth, seeking the false stimulus of wine. In this also he had been disappointed, finding that mirth...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    The wise man's (i) eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one (k) event happeneth to them all. (i) Meaning, in this world. (k) For both die and ar...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Darkness and ignorance. He knows not whither he is going, Proverbs iv. 19., and xvii. 24. Wisdom is to be preferred before wealth, &c. (Calmet) --- Consideration directs a person to do good. --- Alik...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. (15) Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so i...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE WISE MAN'S EYES [ARE] IN HIS HEAD,.... And so are the eyes of every man; but the sense is, he makes use of them, he looks about him, and walks circumspectly; he takes heed to his goings, he forese...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The wise man's eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. Ver. 14. The wise man's eyes are in his head.] He judiciousl...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I saw that wisdom_ I allowed thus much. Although wisdom is not sufficient to make men happy, yet it is of far greater use than vain pleasures, or any other follies. _The wise man's eyes are in his he...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The wise man's eyes are in his head, he uses them with proper observation and understanding; BUT THE FOOL WALKETH IN DARKNESS, deliberately closing his eyes and his understanding to the advantages of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Solomon's own Example...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "THE WISE MAN'S EYES ARE IN HIS HEAD, BUT THE FOOL WALKS IN DARKNESS. AND YET. KNOW THAT ONE FATE BEFALLS THEM BOTH." Points To Note: 1 "A wise man has the foresight to avoid danger while. fool gets...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Ch...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ARE IN HIS HEAD; in their proper place, and therefore they can see, which they could not do if they were out of his head. He hath the use of his eyes and reason, and sees his way, and orders all his a...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 2:14 mans H2450 eyes H5869 head H7218 fool H3684 walks H1980 (H8802) darkness H2822 perceived H30

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A RETURN TO PHILOSOPHY AND ITS HOPELESSNESS (ECCLESIASTES 2:12). Ecclesiastes 2:12 ‘And I turned my mind to observing wisdom and madness and folly. For what can a man do who follows what a king has...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12-2 I. As was natural in so wise a man, the Preacher turns first to wisdom. It is the wisdom that is born of wide and varied experience, not of abstract study. He acquaints himself wit...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Solomon shows that there is no true happiness and satisfaction to be had in mirth, pleasure and the delights of sense. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: True and lasting happiness and...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 2:1. _Enjoy pleasure._ The first doctrine of Epicurus, whose system is here rebutted. Acts 17:18. Ecclesiastes 2:2. _I said of laughter,_ of all forced and frantic joy, _it is mad._ Chald...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness._ THE ADVANTAGE OF WISDOM OVER FOLLY Wisdom possesses the same advantage over folly that sight does over blindness. The man of w...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth._ THE THREEFOLD VIEW OF HUMAN LIFE Three views of human life are given in this remarkable chapter. I. The theatrical view of life (Ecclesiastes 2:1). The wri...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 2:12. WHAT CAN THE MAN DO THAT COMETH AFTER THE KING?] What will my successor do? He will probably, like the rest of the world, follow the well-worn path of sin and foll...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 2:1 Section 2. _Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth._ ECCLESIASTES 2:1 Dissatisfied with the result of the pursuit of wisdom, Koheleth embarks on a course of sensua...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So I said in my heart, Go to now, I'm going to prove thee with [pleasure,] with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: but, behold, this was vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:1). So we read in the New Testament the ep...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 2:11; Ecclesiastes 10:2; Ecclesiastes 10:3; Ecclesiastes 8:1;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    VANITY AND VEXATION UNDER THE SUN Ecclesiastes 2:11 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We shall introduce our study with quotations from our booklet on Ecclesiastes. Solomon had tried everything which his heart co...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Head — In their proper place. He hath the use of his eyes and reason, and foresees, and so avoids many dangers and mischiefs. Yet — Notwithstanding this excellency of wisdom above folly, at last they...

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