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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Ecclesiastes 1:16

Communed — I considered within myself. Great — In wisdom. Have gotten — As I had a large stock of wisdom infused into me by God, so I have greatly improved it by conversation, and study, and experience. Than all — Whether governors, or priests, or private persons. In Jerusalem — Which was then the most eminent place in the world for wisdom.

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See also Ecclesiastes 1:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible 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...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I AM COME ... - Rather, I have accumulated (literally “enlarged and added”) wisdom more than etc. THEY THAT HAVE BEEN ... - The reference is probably to the line of Canaanite kings who lived in Jerusa...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS PART I. Chapter S 1-6 1. The Prologue and the Search Begun CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction and prologue (Ecclesiastes 1:1)_ 2. The seeker; his method and the results (Ecc...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 1:12 TO ECCLESIASTES 2:26. QOHELETH'S INVESTIGATIONS. Assuming the character of Solomon the writer tells of his search for happiness under many forms. The pursuit of wisdom (Ecclesiastes...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MY HEART. I myself. HAD. saw....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Lo, I am come to great estate_ The pronoun is used emphatically. The verb in the Hebrew is connected closely with what follows and speaks not of outward majesty but of "becoming great," in wisdom. So...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _SOLOMON'S SITUATION AND HIS STUDIES -- ECCLESIASTES 1:12-18:_ Solomon showed that things that would normally be considered as what would make a person happy do not. Surely being king would make a man...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    b. Wisdom is used exploring all that is done under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:13-18 TEXT 1:13-18 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 an...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ALL IS VANITY 1-11. The writer describes himself. He declares that all things are transitory and without result, whether they be the works or the life of man, or the natural forces of heat, air, and...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GREAT ESTATE] RV 'Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all,' etc. (omitting 'am come to great estate and'). He has had exceptional advantages in gaining wisdom, and has made the most of his opportu...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ ABOUT THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES THE AUTHOR The word ‘Ecclesiastes’ tells us about the author...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. — Isaiah 30:6; Romans 11:33....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    דִּבַּ֨רְתִּי אֲנִ֤י עִם ־לִבִּי֙ לֵ אמֹ֔ר אֲ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FIRST SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Wisdom And In Pleasure Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 2:1 OPPRESSED by his profound sense of the vanity of the life which man lives amid the play of per...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TESTIMONY OF AN UNSATISFIED SOUL Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 _All is vanity_! This cry finds an echo in human hearts of every age and clime. Clod meant man to be happy. “These things,” said our Lord, “I...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first verse of this chapter introduces us to the author of the Book. Taken in conjunction with verse Ecclesiastes 1:12, it leaves no room for doubt that he is Solomon. In stating his theme he empl...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Learned. Solomon was blessed both with a natural genius, which he improved by study, and also he had the gift of supernatural wisdom. Yet he declares that all is vanity and pain._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. (13) And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the so...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I COMMUNED WITH MY OWN HEART,.... That is, looked into it, examined it, and considered what a stock and fund of knowledge he had in it, after all his researches into it; what happiness accrued to him...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I communed with mine own heart_ I considered within myself in what condition I was, and what degrees of knowledge I had gained; and whether it was not my ignorance that made me unable to rectify thos...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I communed with mine own heart, in a careful contemplation or consideration of the difficulty presented, SAYING, LO, I AM COME TO GREAT ESTATE, being possessed of incalculable wealth, AND HAVE GOTTEN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE UNRELIABILITY OF EARTHLY WISDOM...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE: _ Heb._ had seen much...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "I SAID TO MYSELF, 'BEHOLD,. HAVE MAGNIFIED AND INCREASED WISDOM MORE THAN ALL WHO WERE OVER JERUSALEM BEFORE ME; AND MY MIND HAS OBSERVED. WEALTH OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE." It appears that here we fin...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 mo...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I COMMUNED WITH MINE OWN HEART; I considered within myself in what condition I was, and what degrees of knowledge I had gained, and whether it was not my ignorance that made me unable to rectify those...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 1:16 communed H1696 (H8765) heart H3820 saying H559 (H8800) greatness H1431 (H8689) gained H3254

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PREACHER HAS MADE HIS ENQUIRIES AND COMES UP WITH NOTHING (ECCLESIASTES 1:12 - ECCLESIASTES 2:26). The Preacher now brings out that he has made further enquiries and has come up with nothing. He f...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INTELLECTUAL SEARCH (ECCLESIASTES 1:12). Ecclesiastes 1:12 ‘I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom about all that is done und...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12 I. Solomon's first resource was philosophy. He studied man's position in this world. His appetite for knowledge was omnivorous; and whilst hungering for the harvest, he was thankful...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The doctrine of the vanity of the creature, and the impossibility of finding satisfaction without God. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: All things, considered as abstract from God, an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 1:2. _Vanity of vanities._ This is the Hebrew form of the superlative degree of comparison; as, the heaven of heavens, the song of songs, &c. He adds, “vexation of spirit,” because his re...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I communed with mine own heart._ THE WISDOM, OF SELF-COMMUNION “I communed with mine own heart.” Solomon, by self-communion, by questioning his own consciousness, and by contemplating the facts of h...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:4 First Catalog of “Vanities.” The Preacher gives specific examples to prove his belief that all is “vanity.”...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:16 SURPASSING ALL WHO WERE OVER JERUSALEM BEFORE ME. If anyone possessed the wisdom to grasp the meaning of life, it was the Preacher....

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 1:1 THE TITLE. THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM; Septuagint, "King of Israel in Jerusalem" (comp.Ecclesiastes 1:12). The word rendered "Preacher...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Book of Ecclesiastes begins, The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:1). So that identifies the author as Solomon. The Hebrew word that is translated preacher i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 10:23; 1 Kings 10:24; 1 Kings 10:7; 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 3:13

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE MAN UNDER THE SUN Ecclesiastes 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In order to introduce this study we can think of no better way than to go to our booklet on Ecclesiastes for a quotation. 1. ECCLESIASTES S...

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