Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom ,.... Or, "I and my heart turned about" F8 סבותי אני ולבי "circuivi ego et cor meum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus. ; took a circuit, a tour throughout the whole compass of things; looked into every corner, and went through the circle of knowledge, in order to search and find out what true wisdom is; which is no other than Christ, and a spiritual knowledge of him; a variety of words is used to express... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:26

And I find more bitter than death the woman ,.... This was the issue of his diligent studies and researches, and the observations he had made; this was what he found by sad and woeful experience, and which he chose to take particular notice of; that he might not only expose this vanity among others, and caution men against it, even the love of women, which at best is a bitter sweet, as the poet F11 Musaeus, v. 166. Vid. Barthii ad Claudian. de Nupt. Honor. v. 70. calls it, though here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:27

Behold, this have I found ,.... That a harlot is more bitter than death; and which he found by his own experience, and therefore would have it observed by others for their caution: or one man among a thousand, Ecclesiastes 7:28 ; (saith the preacher) ; of which title and character see Ecclesiastes 1:1 ; it is here mentioned to confirm the truth of what he said; he said it as a preacher, and, upon the word of a preacher, it was true; as also to signify his repentance for his sin, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:28

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not ,.... He was very earnest and diligent in his inquiry; he took a great deal of pains, and was exceedingly solicitous; he sought with great intenseness of mind, and with an eager desire, to find out a chaste and virtuous woman among them all, but could not; one man among a thousand have I found ; it is a great rarity to find a good man F14 "Vir bonus et sapiens, qualem vix reperit unum, millibus e multio hominum, consultus Apollo." Auson.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:29

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright ,.... The first man Adam, as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it; and not Adam only, but Eve also with him; for these were both made by the Lord, and on the same day, and in the same image, and had the same common name of Adam given them, Genesis 1:27 ; And they were both made "upright"; which is to be understood, not of the erectness of their bodies, but of the disposition of their minds; they were "right and innocent before... 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

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