Ecclesiastes 7:23-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

Solomon had hitherto been proving the vanity of the world and its utter insufficiency to make men happy; now here he comes to show the vileness of sin, and its certain tendency to make men miserable; and this, as the former, he proves from his own experience, and it was a dear-bought experience. He is here, more than any where in all this book, putting on the habit of a penitent. He reviews what he had been discoursing of already, and tells us that what he had said was what he knew and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this have I proved by wisdom ,.... Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men, Ecclesiastes 7:8 . This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:24

That which is far off ,.... Or, "far off is that which has been" F7 רחוק מה שהיה "remotum (est) illud quod fuit", Montanus, Mercerus, Vatablus, Drusius, Gejerus. . That which has been done by God already, in creation and providence, is out of the reach of men, is far from their understandings wholly to comprehend or account for; and likewise that which is past with men, what has been done in former ages, the history of past times, is very difficult to come at: or rather,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this have I proved by wisdom - These rules I have laid down for my own conduct, and sought after more wisdom; but have fallen far short of what I wished to be. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:24

That which is far off - Though the wisdom that is essential to our salvation may be soon learned, through the teaching of the Spirit of wisdom, yet in wisdom itself there are extents and depths which none can reach or fathom. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this have I proved by wisdom ; i.e. wisdom was the means by which he arrived at the practical conclusions given above ( Ecclesiastes 7:1-22 ). Would wisdom solve deeper questions? And if so, could he ever hope to attain it? I said, I will be wise . This was his strong resolve. He desired to grow in wisdom, to use it in order to unfold mysteries and explain anomalies. Hitherto he had been content to watch the course of men's lives, and find by experience what was good and what was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

Section 4. Further in sight into essential wisdom was not obtain able; but Koheleth learned some other practical lessons, viz. that wickedness was folly and madness ; that woman was the most evil thing in the world ; that man had perverted his nature , which was made originally good . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:24

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? The broken, interjectional style of the original in this passage, as Professor Taylor Lewis terms it, is better brought out by translating, "Far off is that which is, and deep, deep: who can find it out?" Professor Lewis renders, "Far off! the past, what is it? Deep—a deep—oh, who can find?" and explains "the past" to mean, not merely the earthly past historically unknown, but the great past before the creation of the universe,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:23

I will be - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse.It - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:17. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:24

literally, Far off is that which hath been i. e., events as they have occurred in the order of Divine Providence), and deep, deep, who can find it out? read more

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