Ecclesiastes 7:25 NIV

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 7:25

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied mine heart - I cast about, סבותי sabbothi , I made a circuit; I circumscribed the ground I was to traverse; and all within my circle I was determined to know, and to investigate, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things. Has man reason and understanding? If so, then this is his work. God as much calls him to use these powers in this way, as to believe on the Lord Jesus that he may be saved; and he that does not, according to the means in his power, is a slothful... 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 7:25

I applied mine heart to know ; more literally, I turned myself , and my heart was [set] to know . We have the expression, "tamed myself," referring to a new investigation in Ecclesiastes 2:20 and elsewhere; but the distinguishing the heart or soul from the man himself is not common in Scripture (see on Ecclesiastes 11:9 ), though the soul is sometimes apostrophized, as in Luke 12:19 (comp. Psalms 103:1 ; Psalms 146:1 ). The writer here implies that he gave up himself with... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:25

Reason - The same word is translated “account” Ecclesiastes 7:27, “invention” Ecclesiastes 7:29, and “device” Ecclesiastes 9:10 : it is derived from a root signifying “to count.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:25

Ecclesiastes 7:25 . I applied my heart to know I was not discouraged, but provoked, by the difficulty of the work, to undertake it. To know, search, and seek out wisdom He useth three words signifying the same thing, to intimate his vehement desire, and vigorous and unwearied endeavours after it. And the reason of things Both of God’s various providences, and of the counsels and courses of men. To know the wickedness, &c Clearly and fully to understand the great evil of sin. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

Avoid extremes (7:15-29)One of the puzzles of life is that bad people often have long and prosperous lives, but good people suffer and sometimes die before they have had a chance to enjoy life. The writer suggests that people follow a middle course through life, where they do not ruin their lives through being either over-zealous for goodness and wisdom or over-tolerant towards sin and foolishness. Those who fear God will be successful in avoiding both extremes (15-18).Certainly, wisdom is... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 7:25

the reason . . . madness = in order to know the reason (or cause) of folly's wickedness, and the madness of folly. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:25

Ecclesiastes 7:25. To seek out wisdom, and the reason of things— To seek out wisdom and reason, and that I might know the wickedness of ignorance, and the foolishness of that which is in the greatest esteem, See chap. Ecclesiastes 2:2. That the advices above given might be the better received, our author declares that he speaks of nothing but what he has examined with all the care and application which human wisdom can suggest. "I resolved, says he, to be thoroughly wise; and though I was... read more