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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 8:16

"When. gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),"

Solomon's task was two fold: 1. To know what is and what isn't wisdom, "to gain the knowledge of that which is wisdom, and which is to be regarded as wisdom, solid knowledge regarding the essence, causes….of things" (Keil/Del. p. 352). 2. And to use such wisdom to understand the affairs of this life.

"even though one should never sleep" -Such. task demanded all of Solomon's time, he was forced to burn the midnight oil.

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See also Ecclesiastes 8:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 16. _WHEN I APPLIED MINE HEART TO KNOW WISDOM_] This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    These verses supplement Ecclesiastes 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ 2. Of the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 8:11) 3. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 8:16 TO ECCLESIASTES 9:16. LIFE'S RIDDLE BAFFLES THE WISEST QUEST. The parenthesis in Ecclesiastes 8:16_ b_ describes the ceaseless effort of the keen student of life, or perhaps the fate

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BUSINESS. travail. FOR ALSO THERE IS, &C.. how that one doth not see sleep with his eyes by day or by night. Figure of speech _Catachresis_ (App-6)....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _When I applied mine heart to know wisdom_ The opening formula has met us before in ch. Ecclesiastes 1:13. The parenthetical clause expresses, with a familiar imagery, the sleepless meditation that ha...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO SEE THE BUSINESS THAT IS DONE UPON THE EARTH— _To observe the occupations of man upon the earth; and that even day and night he doth not see sleep with his eyes,_ Ecclesiastes 8:17. _Then I underst...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. Work even when one cannot understand the working of God. Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 TEXT 8:14-17 14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens ac...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) WHEN I APPLIED MINE HEART TO...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    8:16 business (d-13) Or 'travail,' as ch. 2.23....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    KINGS'COURTS NEED WARY WALKING 1-17. Be discreet in relation with a ruler. God's purpose must be carried out. His rule must be righteous, though this is often not seen in actual life. God's ways are...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FOR ALSO, etc.] RM 'how that neither by day nor by night do men see sleep with their eyes.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 8 THE WISE WAY TO OBEY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY – ECCLESIASTES 8:1-9...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    It would have been better if the new chapter had been made to begin here. The sentiment is that already expressed in Ecclesiastes 3:11. SEETH SLEEP WITH HIS EYES. — Psalms 132:4; Proverbs 6:4;...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כַּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת ־לִבִּי֙ לָ דַ֣עַת

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FOURTH SECTION The Quest Achieved. The Chief Good Is To Be Found, Not In Wisdom, Nor In Pleasure, Nor In Devotion To Affairs And Its Rewards; But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Ecclesiastes 8:1 THE QUEST IN THE GOLDEN MEAN. Ecclesiastes 7:1; Ecclesiastes 8:1 There be many that say, "Who will show us any gold?" mistaking gold for their god or good. For though th

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

    In this division, dealing with the evidences of the vanity of life, the preacher sets forth certain deductions. The highest wisdom is submission to things as they are. Who knows anything? he asks. The...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Distraction of politicians, (Grotius) and of all human affairs._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (12) Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be p...

  • 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

    WHEN I APPLIED MINE HEART TO KNOW WISDOM,.... The nature and causes of things; the wisdom of God in his providence, and the grounds and reasons of his various dispensations towards the children of men...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also [there is that] neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Ver. 16. _When I applied min...

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

    _When I applied my heart to know wisdom_ He seems to be here assigning the reason of that judgment which he had now passed, (Ecclesiastes 8:15,) which reason is, that he had diligently studied wherein...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    OVER AGAINST TYRANNY AND INJUSTICE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth, the travail and trouble caused by his anxious search for the grounds and aims of human action, fate, and...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in G...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I APPLIED MINE HEART TO KNOW WISDOM: this he seems to add as the reason of that judgment which he had now passed, ECCLESIASTES 8:15, because he had diligently studied wherein man's wisdom did consist,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 8:16 applied H5414 (H8804) heart H3820 know H3045 (H8800) wisdom H2451 see H7200 (H8800) busi

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROBLEM OF THE WICKED WHO DIE UNPUNISHED (ECCLESIASTES 8:10). The writer now turns to consideration of how and why the wicked die unpunished, and the fact that justice is only carelessly applied,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER 8 ADVICE WITH REGARD TO SERVING THE KING. THE PROBLEM OF THE DEATH OF THE WICKED. His survey now digresses to consider a wise man's responsibility when serving the king, followed by a number...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 8:16-10 I. At the end of chap. viii. and the beginning of chap. ix., Koheleth points out that it is impossible for us to construct a satisfactory policy of life. "The work of God," or, as...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man, e...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 8:1. _Who is as the wise man; and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?_ In the Vulgate these two questions end the seventh chapter, to which they evidently belong. Placing them at t...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 8:14. THERE IS A VANITY WHICH IS DONE UPON THE EARTH.] These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of that vanity to which man has been made subject...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Section 5. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom counsels obedience to the powers that be_,_ and submission to the dispensations of Providence_._ _Howeve...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandmen...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ecclesiastes 2:23; Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Ecclesiastes 7:25;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    To see — To observe mens various designs and employments, and their unwearied labours about worldly things. For there is — Having now mentioned the business which is done, or which man doth, upon eart...

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Old Testament