Ecclesiastes 7:7-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the sun, which gave occasion for many melancholy speculations and were a great discouragement to virtue and piety. Now here, I. He grants the temptation to be strong (Eccl. 7:7): Surely it is often too true that oppression makes a wise man mad. If a wise man be much and long oppressed, he is very apt to speak and act unlike himself, to lay the reins on the neck of his passions, and break out into indecent complaints... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

Solomon, in these verses, recommends wisdom to us as the best antidote against those distempers of mind which we are liable to, by reason of the vanity and vexation of spirit that there are in the things of this world. Here are some of the praises and the precepts of wisdom. I. The praises of wisdom. Many things are here said in its commendation, to engage us to get and retain wisdom. 1. Wisdom is necessary to the right managing and improving of our worldly possessions: Wisdom is good with an... read more

John Gill

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

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad ,.... Which is to be understood either passively, when he is oppressed by others, or sees others oppressed; it raises indignation in him, disturbs his mind, and he is ready to pass a wrong judgment on the dispensations of Providence, and to say rash and unadvised things concerning them, Psalm 73:2 ; or actively, of oppression with which he oppresses others; when he gives into such measures, his wisdom departs from him, his mind is besotted, he acts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof ,.... If the thing is good, other ways the end of it is worse; as the end of wickedness and wicked men, whose beginning is sweet, but the end bitter; yea, are the ways of death, Proverbs 5:4 ; and so the end of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh, Galatians 3:3 ; but the end of good things, and of good men, is better than the beginning; as the end of Job was, both with respect to things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ,.... With men, for every word that is said, or action done, that is not agreeable; encourage not, but repress, sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick of resentment, and at once express anger and displeasure; but be slow to wrath, for such a man is better than the mighty, James 1:19 , Proverbs 16:32 ; or with God, for his corrections and chastisements; so the Targum, "in the time that correction from heaven comes upon thee, do not hasten... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:10

Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these ?.... This is a common opinion, that in all ages prevails among men, that former times were better than present ones; that trade flourished more, and men got more wealth and riches, and lived in greater ease and plenty; and complain that their lot is cast in such hard times, and are ready to lay the blame upon the providence of God, and murmur at it, which they should not do; for thou dost not inquire wisely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdom is good with an inheritance ,.... It is good of itself. Or, "is as good as an inheritance" F14 עם נחלה "aeque ac haereditas", Gejerus, Schmidt. , as it may be rendered; it is a portion of itself, especially spiritual and divine wisdom. The Targum interprets it, the wisdom of the law, or the knowledge of that; but much more excellent is the wisdom of the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom; the knowledge of which, in an experimental way, is preferable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence ,.... Or, a "shadow" of refreshment and protection, under which men sit with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom, and so by his money, is able to defend himself against the injuries and oppressions of others, and especially when both meet in one and the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it, "he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money, for wisdom is the cause why riches come;' and so the Targum, "as a man... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Oppression maketh a wise man mad - This has been translated with good show of reason, "Surely oppression shall give lustre to a wise man: but a gift corrupteth the heart." The chief difference here is in the word יהולל yeholel , which, from the root הלל halal , signiffes to glister, irradiate, as well as to move briskly, to be mad, furious, in a rage; and certainly the former meaning suits this place best. We cannot think that the wise man - he that is truly religious, (for this is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better is the end - We can then judge of the whole, and especially if the matter relate to the conduct of Divine Providence. At the beginning we are often apt to make very rash conjectures, and often suppose that such and such things are against us; and that every thing is going wrong. Dr. Byrom gives good advice on such a subject: - "With patient mind thy course of duty run: God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, But thou wouldst do thyself, couldst thou but see The and of all... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:12

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:8

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