Ecclesiastes 1 · Verse 18

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:18 in other translations

BSBFor with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
WEBFor in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
ASVFor in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
YLTfor, in abundance of wisdom is abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'
DARBYFor in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
BBEBecause in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.
WebsterFor in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

What does Ecclesiastes 1:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. wisdom ... knowledge--not in general, for wisdom, &c., are most excellent in their place; but speculative knowledge of man's ways (Ec 1:13, 17), which, the farther it goes, gives one the more pain to find how "crooked" and "wanting" they are (Ec 1:15; 12:12).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For in much wisdom is much grief - The more we know of ourselves the less satisfied shall we be with our own hearts; and the more we know of mankind the less willing shall we be to trust them, and the less shall we admire them. Be that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow - And why so? Because, independently of God, the principal objects of knowledge are natural and moral evils. The Targum gives a curious paraphrase here: "The man who multiplies wisdom, when he sins and is not converted to repentance, multiplies the indignation of God against himself; and the man who adds science, and yet dies in his childhood, adds grief of heart to his relatives." A man in science; a foolish child in conduct. How pained must they be who had the expense of his education! But there are many men-children of this sort in every age and country.

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 1:18 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.

כִּ֛יkiforH3588
בְּרֹ֥בbe.Ro[is] in abundance ofH7230
חָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
רָב\־rov-abundance ofH7227
כָּ֑עַסKa.'asfrustrationH3708
וְיוֹסִ֥יףve.yo.Sifso someone may increaseH3254
דַּ֖עַתDa.'atknowledgeH1847
יוֹסִ֥יףyo.Sifhe will increaseH3254
מַכְאֽוֹב\׃makh.'ovpainH4341

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 1:18

  • Job 28:28

    And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:12-13

    And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

    Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:16

    Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

  • James 3:13-17

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. …

  • Ecclesiastes 2:23

    For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:15

    Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For in.
2:15; 7:16; 12:12,13; Job 28:28; 1Co 3:18-20; Jas 3:13-17

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:18

    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque en la mucha sabiduría hay mucha molestia; y quien añade ciencia, añade dolor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car à beaucoup de sagesse, beaucoup de chagrin; et qui augmente la connaissance, augmente la douleur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn bei viel Weisheit ist viel Verdruß: und wer Erkenntnis mehrt, mehrt Kummer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		eo quod in multa sapientia multa sit indignatio; et qui addit scientiam, addit et laborem.