The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 2:13 Explained

Ecclesiastes 2:13

KJV: Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

YLT: And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness.

Darby: And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness.

ASV: Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Discover Ecclesiastes 2:13

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ecclesiastes 2:13?

MEANING: What does Ecclesiastes 2:13 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 2:13 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ecclesiastes 2:13?

What is the context of Ecclesiastes 2:13?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

What does Ecclesiastes 2:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 - 24-26, Vain Undertakings

At the beginning of his search for happiness Solomon erected a splendid home and planned all kinds of delights of an artistic and sensuous nature. There were gardens, pools of crystal water, fruit trees, meadows filled with cattle, regal splendor, musicians who poured into the palace their sweet melodies. He went further, adding to architecture and art his intellectual pursuits. But when he had gone to the furthest limit, he turned from it all, with the old gnawing at his heart-Vanity of vanities!

A few days before the death of the great Cardinal Mazarin, he was heard by a friend to utter something of the same sad refrain. "I was walking," says this friend, "in one of the apartments of the palace, when I recognized the approach of the Cardinal by the sound of his slippered feet, which he dragged one after the other as a man suffering from a mortal malady. I concealed myself behind the tapestry and heard him say, as he looked at one picture and rare treasure after another, "˜I must leave all these.'" Let us, in the light of these things, ponder again those words of Christ in Luke 12:33. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 2

¹ the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure
¹² Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event
¹⁸ The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom
²⁴ Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 2:13 mean?

And saw I that excels wisdom from folly as excels light darkness

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־ הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ

וְרָאִ֣יתִי	And saw
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular Root: רָאָה Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ	that
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Adverb Root: יֵשׁ Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
יִתְר֛וֹן	excels
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: יִתְרֹון Sense: advantage, profit, excellency.
לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה	wisdom
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: חָכְמָה Sense: wisdom.
הַסִּכְל֑וּת	folly
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: סִכְלוּת Sense: folly, foolishness.
כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן	as excels
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: יִתְרֹון Sense: advantage, profit, excellency.
הָא֖וֹר	light
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular Root: אֹור Sense: light.
הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ	darkness
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: חֹשֶׁךְ Sense: darkness, obscurity.

What are the major concepts related to Ecclesiastes 2:13?

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Similar Scriptures for Ecclesiastes 2:13

		Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 [5]
		Matthew 6:23 [4]
		Ephesians 5:8 [4]
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		Proverbs 4:5-7 [2]
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