Ecclesiastes 1 · Verse 16

Ecclesiastes 1:16

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:16, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:16 in other translations

BSBI said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
WEBI said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
ASVI communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
YLTI--I spake with my heart, saying, ‘I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
DARBYI communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.
BBEI said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.
WebsterI communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have come to great estate, and have gained more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

What does Ecclesiastes 1:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. communed with ... heart--(Ge 24:45). come to great estate--Rather, "I have magnified and gotten" (literally, "added," increased), &c. all ... before me in Jerusalem--namely, the priests, judges, and two kings that preceded Solomon. His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Lu 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Mt 11:19; 12:42). had ... experience--literally, "had seen" (Jr 2:31). Contrast with this glorying in worldly wisdom (Jr 9:23, 24).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 I communed with mine own heart - Literally, "I spoke, I, with my heart, saying." When successful in my researches, but not happy in my soul, though easy in my circumstances, I entered into my own heart, and there inquired the cause of my discontent. He found that, though - 1. He had gotten wisdom beyond all men; 2. Wealth and honors more than any other; 3. Practical wisdom more than all his predecessors; 4. Had tried pleasure and animal gratification, even to their extremes; yet after all this he had nothing but vexation of spirit. None of these four things, nor the whole of them conjoined, could afford him such a happiness as satisfies the soul. Why was all this? Because the soul was made for God, and in the possession of him alone can it find happiness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 →

Ecclesiastes 1:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

דִּבַּ֨רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiI have spokenH1696
אֲנִ֤י'a.NiIH589
עִם\־'im-withH5973
לִבִּי֙li.Biheart myH3820
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
אֲנִ֗י'a.NiIH589
הִנֵּ֨הhi.Nehhere!H2009
הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּיhig.Dal.tiI have made greatH1431
וְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙ve.ho.Saf.tiand I have increasedH3254
חָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
עַ֛ל'alaboveH5921
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[one] whoH834
הָיָ֥הha.Yahhe wasH1961
לְפָנַ֖יle.fa.Nai<to> before meH6440
עַל\־'al-overH5921
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
וְלִבִּ֛יve.li.Biand heart myH3820
רָאָ֥הra.'Ahit has seenH7200
הַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehmuchH7235
חָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
וָדָֽעַת\׃va.Da.'atand knowledgeH1847

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 1:16

  • Ecclesiastes 2:9

    So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

  • 1 Kings 4:30

    And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

  • 1 Kings 10:7

    Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

  • 1 Kings 3:12-13

    Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

  • Hebrews 5:14

    But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • 2 Chronicles 2:12

    Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.

  • Psalms 4:4

    Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:10-12

    Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

  • Ezekiel 38:10-11

    Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

  • Isaiah 10:7-14

    Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; …

  • 1 Kings 10:23-24

    So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:22-23

    And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
communed.
2Ki 5:20; Ps 4:4; 77:6; Isa 10:7-14; Jer 22:14; Eze 38:10,11
Da 4:30
Lo.
2:9; 1Ki 3:12,13; 4:30; 10:7,23,24; 2Ch 1:10-12; 2:12; 9:22,23
great experience of. Heb. seen much.
Heb 5:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:15

    That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:17

    And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hablé yo con mi corazón, diciendo: He aquí hállome yo engrandecido, y he crecido en sabiduría sobre todos los que fueron antes de mí en Jerusalem; y mi corazón ha percibido muchedumbre de sabiduría y ciencia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai parlé en mon cœur, disant: Voici, je suis devenu grand et j’ai acquis de la sagesse plus que tous ceux qui ont été avant moi sur Jérusalem, et mon cœur a vu beaucoup de sagesse et de connaissance;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sprach in meinem Herzen und sagte: Siehe, ich habe Weisheit vergrößert und vermehrt über alle hinaus, die vor mir über Jerusalem waren, und mein Herz hat Fülle von Weisheit und Erkenntnis gesehen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Locutus sum in corde meo, dicens: Ecce magnus effectus sum, et præcessi omnes sapientia qui fuerunt ante me in Jerusalem; et mens mea contemplata est multa sapienter, et didici.