Ecclesiastes 7:24

24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

Ecclesiastes 7:24 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:24

That which is far off
Or, "far off [is] that which has been" F7. That which has been done by God already, in creation and providence, is out of the reach of men, is far from their understandings wholly to comprehend or account for; and likewise that which is past with men, what has been done in former ages, the history of past times, is very difficult to come at: or rather, according to Schmidt, and Rambachius after him, what was of old is now afar off or absent; the image of God in man which consisted of perfect wisdom, and was created at the same time with him, is now lost, and that is the reason why wisdom is far from him; and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
the primitive perfect wisdom is sunk so deep and gone, that no man can find it to the perfection it was once enjoyed; see ( Job 28:12-23 ) . This may respect the knowledge of God, and the perfections of his nature; which are as high as heaven, and deeper than hell, ( Job 11:7 Job 11:8 ) ; and of his thoughts, counsels, purposes, and decrees, which are the deep things of God; as well as the doctrines of the Gospel, and the mysteries of grace, ( 1 Corinthians 2:10 1 Corinthians 2:11 ) ; and even his providential dispensations towards the sons of men, ( Romans 11:33 ) . The Targum of the whole is,

``Lo, now it is far off from the children of men to know all that has been from the days of old; and the secret of the day of death, and the secret of the day in which the King Messiah shall come, who is he that shall find it out by his wisdom?''

FOOTNOTES:

F7 (hyhv hm qwxr) "remotum (est) illud quod fuit", Montanus, Mercerus, Vatablus, Drusius, Gejerus.

Ecclesiastes 7:24 In-Context

22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.