Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:18

We become more sensible of our ignorance and impotence, and therefore sorrowful, in proportion as we discover more of the constitution of nature and the scheme of Providence in the government of the world; every discovery serving to convince us that more remains concealed of which we had no suspicion before.

Continues after advertising

See also Ecclesiastes 1:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ecclesiastes 1:18. _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 sh...

  • 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

    GRIEF. mortification. SORROW. smarting....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _in much wisdom is much grief_ The same sad sentence was written on the study of man's nature in its greatness and its littleness, its sanity and insanity. The words have passed into a proverb, and we...

  • 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...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR IN MUCH WISDOM, &C.— The sum of the matter, from the 16th verse, is this; First, the research of wisdom, nay, the very possession of that science, whereby one is fully enabled to distinguish good...

  • 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

    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. IN MUCH WISDOM (IS) MUCH...

  • 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

    MUCH GRIEF] Sir Isaac Newton spoke of himself as a child picking up a few pebbles on the shore of the wide sea of knowledge. So the more the veil is lifted, the wider is seen to be the extent of that...

  • 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

    GRIEF. — Irritation....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּ֛י בְּ רֹ֥ב חָכְמָ֖ה רָב ־כָּ֑עַס וְ

  • 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...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For in much wisdom [is] much (m) grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (m) Wisdom and knowledge cannot be come by without great pain of body and mind: for when a man has attained...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Labour. He is bound to do more for heaven, as he is convinced of his own defects, and of the strict judgments of God. Wisdom is not true happiness, but the means to obtain it. (Worthington) --- The m...

  • 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...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    REFLECTIONS PAUSE, my soul, over this Chapter; and when thou hast gathered together, into one point of view, the several weighty truths contained in it, sit down and sum up the very solemn lessons whi...

  • 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

    FOR IN MUCH WISDOM [IS] MUCH GRIEF,.... In getting it, and losing it when it is gotten: or "indignation" t, at himself and others; being more sensible of the follies and weakness of human nature; AND...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ver. 18. _For in much wisdom is much grief._] And herein children and fools have the advantage; as they want wi...

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

    _In much wisdom is much grief_ Or displeasure to a man within himself, and against his present condition; _and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow_ Which he does many ways, because he gets...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE UNRELIABILITY OF EARTHLY WISDOM...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    For in much wisdom is much grief, lack of knowledge or deliberate ignorance saving a person many a disagreeable meditation on the weakness and meanness of human nature; AND HE THAT INCREASETH KNOWLEDG...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "BECAUSE IN MUCH WISDOM THERE IS MUCH GRIEF, AND INCREASING KNOWLEDGE RESULTS IN INCREASING PAIN."BECAUSE" -this is one reason why intellectual stimulation, academic pursuits fail to bring lasting hap...

  • 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

    GRIEF, or _indignation_, or displeasure within himself, and against his present condition. INCREASETH SORROW; which he doth many ways, partly, because he gets his knowledge with hard and wearisome lab...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 1:18 much H7230 wisdom H2451 much H7230 grief H3708 increases H3254 (H8686) knowledge H1847 increases...

  • 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 1:18 The declaration of the text may be considered as the expression of a soul that seeks satisfaction in mere earthly knowledge. I. Mere earthly knowledge is unsatisfactory in its natur...

  • 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

    _And he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow._ THE HERITAGE OF KNOWLEDGE I. How is the increase of knowledge also an increase of sorrow? The affirmation of the text is not that knowledge is no...

  • 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 1:18 WISDOM is a mixed blessing. In the process of gaining wisdom one also gains a clearer view into the tragedies of life....

  • 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 Corinthians 3:18; Ecclesiastes 12:12; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Ecclesiastes 2:15;...

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Grief — Or, displeasure within himself, and against his present condition. Sorrow — Which he does many ways, because he gets his knowledge with hard and wearisome labour, both of mind and body, with t...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Is wisdom the source of happiness, or the means of sorrow? PROBLEM: Solomon affirms here that “in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” However, Proverbs assert...

Continues after advertising