Ecclesiastes 8:17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:14-17

Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. Concerning this Solomon here gives us his advice. I. He would not have us to be surprised at it, as though some strange thing happened, for he himself saw it in his days, Eccl. 8:14. 1. He saw just men to whom it happened according to the work of the wicked, who,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:17

Then I beheld all the work of God ,.... Not of creation, but of Providence; took notice of it, contemplated on it, considered it, and weighed it well; viewed the various steps and methods of it, to find out, if possible, at least, some general rule by which it proceeded: but all so various and uncertain, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun : he can find out that it is done, but not the reason why it is done: the ways of God are in the deep, and not to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:17

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 - That a man cannot find it out. That if he labor to find it out, he shall not succeed. 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. You do not understand it; you cannot comprehend it. Fear God! read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

No mortal wisdom, combined with the closest observation and thought, can fathom the mysteries of God's moral government. Esther 8:16 When I applied mine heart ( Ecclesiastes 1:13 ). The answering member of the sentence is in Esther 8:17 , the last clause of the present verse being parenthetical. To know wisdom . This was his first study (see on Ecclesiastes 1:16 ). He endeavored to acquire wisdom which might enable him to investigate God's doings. His second study was to see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:17

Then I beheld all the work of God . This is the apodosis to the first clause of Ecclesiastes 8:16 . "God's work" is the same as the work that is done under the sun , and means men's actions and the providential ordering thereof. This a man , with his finite understanding, cannot find out, cannot thoroughly comprehend or explain (comp. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ; Ecclesiastes 7:23 , Ecclesiastes 7:24 ). Because though a man labor to seek it out . The Septuagint has, ὅσα ἂν ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

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 find that his finite intelligence cannot grasp it.Ecclesiastes 8:16Business - Or, “travail” Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:10. The sleeplessness noted probably refers to the writer himself. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:17

Ecclesiastes 8:17. Then Hebrew, and, or, moreover, I beheld all the work of God I considered the counsels and ways of God, and the various methods of his providence toward good and bad men, and the reasons of them. That a man cannot find out the work, &c. 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 and fruitless inquiries about those matters, but quietly to submit to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

Compromise, despair and joy (8:1-17)Wisdom helps people see the underlying meaning of things and teaches them that to act with pleasantness is better than to act with harshness (8:1). If, for example, people work in the king’s palace, they will do what the king says, partly because they have sworn before God to be obedient and partly because they will be punished if they disobey. But if they find the king’s command unreasonable, wisdom will show them a way out. They will wait for a suitable... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17. 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 understood that this is all God's own work; that man is not able to find out the end of this work which is done under the sun: Therefore, though a man should labour, &c. See Desvoeux, and chap. Ecclesiastes 3:11. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Wisdom is indeed of infinite importance. We have... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

B. God’s Inscrutable Plan chs. 7-8Solomon proceeded in this section to focus on the comprehensive plan of God: His decree. His point was that we cannot fathom it completely. read more