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Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Ecclesiastes 1:13

wisdom. Hebrew. chokmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2.

under heaven. under the heavens. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "under the sun".

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4. The title "Jehovah" is not used in Ecclesiastes, as this book refers to man in relation to his Creator only; not to man in covenant with Him as "Jehovah". Hence the frequent use of Hebrew. 'adam for "man" in this book.

exercised. humbled.

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See also Ecclesiastes 1:13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 13. _AND I GAVE MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEARCH_] While Solomon was faithful to his God, he diligently cultivated his mind. His giving himself to the study of natural history, philosophy, poetry, c....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WISDOM - As including both the powers of observation and judgment, and the knowledge acquired thereby (1 Kings 3:28; 1 Kings 4:29; 1 Kings 10:8, ...). It increases by exercise. Here is noted its appli...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS PART I. Chapter S 1-6 1. The Prologue and the Search Begun CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction and prologue (Ecclesiastes 1:1)_ 2. The seeker; his method and the results (Ecc...

  • 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...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I gave my heart_ The phrase, so expressive of the spirit of an earnest seeker, is eminently characteristic of this book and meets us again in Ecclesiastes 1:17, chaps. Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _SOLOMON'S SITUATION AND HIS STUDIES -- ECCLESIASTES 1:12-18:_ Solomon showed that things that would normally be considered as what would make a person happy do not. Surely being king would make a man...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THIS SORE TRAVAIL HATH GOD GIVEN— That is to say, the fatiguing employment which God gave to the sons of men, to give evidence of himself. See the paraphrase on the 15th verse....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    b. Wisdom is used exploring all that is done under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:13-18 TEXT 1:13-18 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I GAVE MY HEART T...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:13 men (b-31) Or 'sons of the _ Adam_ ;' often in this book. The _ Adam_ is also frequent. see Genesis 1:27 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ALL IS VANITY 1-11. The writer describes himself. He declares that all things are transitory and without result, whether they be the works or the life of man, or the natural forces of heat, air, and...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MY HEART] We should say my 'mind,' but the heart was considered by the Jews to be the seat of the intellectual powers as well as of the emotions. ALL _things_] the different ways that men work, and th...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ ABOUT THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES THE AUTHOR The word ‘Ecclesiastes’ tells us about the author...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    GAVE MY HEART. — The phrase occurs again in this book (Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 8:9; Eccles

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ נָתַ֣תִּי אֶת ־לִבִּ֗י לִ דְרֹ֤ושׁ וְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FIRST SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Wisdom And In Pleasure Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 2:1 OPPRESSED by his profound sense of the vanity of the life which man lives amid the play of per...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TESTIMONY OF AN UNSATISFIED SOUL Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 _All is vanity_! This cry finds an echo in human hearts of every age and clime. Clod meant man to be happy. “These things,” said our Lord, “I...

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

    The first verse of this chapter introduces us to the author of the Book. Taken in conjunction with verse Ecclesiastes 1:12, it leaves no room for doubt that he is Solomon. In stating his theme he empl...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this grievous labour hath God given to the sons of man (i) to be exercised with it. (i) Man by...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. (13) And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the so...

  • 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

    AND I GAVE MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEARCH OUT BY WISDOM,.... As he had all advantages and opportunities, so he did not want for industry and application to obtain knowledge; he gave his mind to it; he to...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. Ver. 13. _And I...

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

    _I gave my heart_ Which phrase denotes his serious and fixed purpose, and his great industry in it. _To search out by wisdom_ To seek diligently and accurately, by the help of that wisdom wherewith Go...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom, applying the wisdom given him by the Lord with all zeal, CONCERNING ALL THINGS THAT ARE DONE UNDER HEAVEN, the motives, acts, and lives of men eve...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE UNRELIABILITY OF EARTHLY WISDOM...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    TO BE EXERCISED THEREWITH: Or, to afflict them...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "AND. SET MY MIND TO SEEK AND EXPLORE BY WISDOM CONCERNING ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE UNDER HEAVEN. IT IS. GRIEVOUS TASK WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MEN TO BE AFFLICTED WITH."SET MY MIND" -This wil...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the mo...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I GAVE MY HEART, which phrase notes his serious and fixed purpose, his great industry and alacrity in it, TO SEEK AND SEARCH OUT, to seek diligently and accurately, by wisdom, wisely, or by the help o...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 1:13 set H5414 (H8804) heart H3820 seek H1875 (H8800) out H8446 (H8800) wisdom H2451 done...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PREACHER HAS MADE HIS ENQUIRIES AND COMES UP WITH NOTHING (ECCLESIASTES 1:12 - ECCLESIASTES 2:26). The Preacher now brings out that he has made further enquiries and has come up with nothing. He f...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INTELLECTUAL SEARCH (ECCLESIASTES 1:12). Ecclesiastes 1:12 ‘I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom about all that is done und...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12 I. Solomon's first resource was philosophy. He studied man's position in this world. His appetite for knowledge was omnivorous; and whilst hungering for the harvest, he was thankful...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12 I. Solomon found no rest in pleasure, riches, power, glory, wisdom itself. He had learnt nothing more, after all, than he might have known, and doubtless did know, when he was a chil...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The doctrine of the vanity of the creature, and the impossibility of finding satisfaction without God. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: All things, considered as abstract from God, an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 1:2. _Vanity of vanities._ This is the Hebrew form of the superlative degree of comparison; as, the heaven of heavens, the song of songs, &c. He adds, “vexation of spirit,” because his re...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven._ THE MYSTERIES OF HUMAN LIFE Now, there has never been any book which can be compared to this marve...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:4 First Catalog of “Vanities.” The Preacher gives specific examples to prove his belief that all is “vanity.”...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:13 UNHAPPY BUSINESS. For some reason unknown to the Preacher, God ordains that mankind should endure painful experiences in this present fallen world. The phrase UN...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 1:1 THE TITLE. THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM; Septuagint, "King of Israel in Jerusalem" (comp.Ecclesiastes 1:12). The word rendered "Preacher...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Book of Ecclesiastes begins, The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:1). So that identifies the author as Solomon. The Hebrew word that is translated preacher i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 4:15; Ecclesiastes 12:12; Ecclesiastes 3:10; Ecclesiastes 4:4;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE MAN UNDER THE SUN Ecclesiastes 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In order to introduce this study we can think of no better way than to go to our booklet on Ecclesiastes for a quotation. 1. ECCLESIASTES S...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I gave my heart — Which phrase denotes his serious and fixed purpose, and his great industry in it. To search — To seek diligently and accurately. By wisdom — By the help of that wisdom wherewith God...

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