Ecclesiastes 1:13 NIV

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:13

13. this sore travail—namely, that of "searching out all things done under heaven." Not human wisdom in general, which comes afterwards ( :-, c.), but laborious enquiries into, and speculations about, the works of men for example, political science. As man is doomed to get his bread, so his knowledge, by the sweat of his brow ( :-) [GILL]. exercised—that is, disciplined; literally, "that they may thereby chastise, or humble themselves." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 1:12-15

1. Solomon’s investigation of human achievement 1:12-15Solomon had unique resources for investigating life. He was the king of Israel (Ecclesiastes 1:12), and he possessed superlative wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:13; cf. Ecclesiastes 1:16; 1 Kings 4:26-34). He says he made a comprehensive study of all kinds of human activities (Ecclesiastes 1:14). He observed that they were all a "grievous task" (Ecclesiastes 1:13; cf. Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:14), namely, difficult and disappointing.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 1:12-17

A. Personal Observations 1:12-2:17There are four parts to this section that fall into two pairs. Solomon first related his investigations (in Ecclesiastes 1:12-15 and Ecclesiastes 2:1-11), and then gave his evaluations of each of these experiments (in Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 and Ecclesiastes 2:12-17). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

All is Vanity1-11. 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 water. Language cannot do justice to nature’s wearisome sameness. The oblivion which overtakes all.1. Preacher] see Intro. §§ 1, 2.2. Vanity of vanities] lit.’breath of breaths’; the form of expression being a Hebrew way of indicating the superlative degree. Of all fleeting things existence is the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ecclesiastes 1:13

(13) Gave my heart.—The phrase occurs again in this book (Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 8:9; Ecclesiastes 8:16) and often elsewhere. (See Daniel 10:12; 2 Chronicles 11:16, &c) The heart among the Hebrews is regarded as the seat, not merely of the feelings, but of the intellectual faculties, and so the word is constantly used in what follows. “I gave my heart” is the same as “I applied my mind.”To seek.—Deuteronomy 13:14; Leviticus 10:16.Search out.—Numbers 14:36;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

The Verdict of Life Ecclesiastes 1:2 The verdict of this book seems to be no hasty verdict, but a settled, deliberate conclusion. It is not due to a temporary fit of depression, or some passing adverse circumstance, but it seems the result of experience arrived at after mature thought. And there are plenty Today who have arrived at the same conclusion. All is vanity. Life is hard and cruel and disappointing, and not worth the living. They tell you it is a weary struggle in which most fail.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

FIRST SECTIONThe Quest Of The Chief Good In Wisdom And In PleasureEcclesiastes 1:12-18; Ecclesiastes 2:1-26OPPRESSED by his profound sense of the vanity of the life which man lives amid the play of permanent natural forces, Coheleth sets out on the search for that true and supreme Good which it will be well for the sons of men to pursue through their brief day; the good which will sustain them under all their toils, and be "a portion" so large, and enduring as to satisfy even their vast... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Analysis and Annotations PART I. CHAPTERS 1-6 1. The Prologue and the Search Begun CHAPTER 1 1. The introduction and prologue (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ) 2. The seeker; his method and the results (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 ) Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 . In the general introduction we have already referred to the opening verses as giving the information who the author is and what is the object of his treatise. So sure is the critical school that Solomon is not the king mentioned that one says “the fact... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:13

1:13 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 nature has a desire to know, and yet is not able to come to the perfection of knowledge, which is the punishment of sin, to humble man, and to teach him to depend only on God. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

THE PROLOGUE (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ) These verses show the general result of the whole search for good on earth, the record of which is to follow (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 ); a symbolic illustration from nature of the monotony of human existence (Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 ); and a plain statement of the facts in the case (Ecclesiastes 1:8-11 ). THE INTRODUCTION (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 ) These verses describe the seeker (Ecclesiastes 1:12 ); his method of search (Ecclesiastes 1:13 ), and the result in... read more