Ecclesiastes 7:25-26, Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Ecclesiastes 5:1 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

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:26

And I find more bitter than death the woman - After all his investigation of the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness, he found nothing equally dangerous and ruinous with the blandishments of cunning women. When once the affections are entangled, escape without ruin is almost impossible. Whoso pleaseth God - The man who walks with God, and he alone, shall escape this sore evil: and even he that fears God, if he get with an artful woman, may be soon robbed of his strength,... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:26

One practical result of his quest Koheleth cannot avoid mentioning, though it comes with a suddenness which is somewhat startling. And I find more bitter than death the woman . Tracing men's folly and madness to their source, he finds that they arise generally from the seductions of the female sex. Beginning with Adam, woman has continued to work mischief in the world. "Of the woman came the beginning of sin," says Siracides, "and through her we all die" (Ecclesiasticus 25:24); it was owing... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:26

Compare the account of Solomon’s wives 1 Kings 11:1-8 : see also Proverbs 2:16-19; Proverbs 5:3... read more

Ecclesiastes 7:25-26, Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Ecclesiastes 5:1 Niv

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:26

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:26

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