Ecclesiastes 7:25

25 I turned my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom, along with an account of things, to know that wickedness is foolishness and folly is madness.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out
wisdom
Or, "I and my heart turned about" ^F8; took a circuit, a tour throughout the whole compass of things; looked into every corner, and went through the circle of knowledge, in order to search and find out what true wisdom is; which is no other than Christ, and a spiritual knowledge of him; a variety of words is used to express his eager desire after wisdom, and the diligent search he made, from which he was not discouraged by the difficulties he met with; see ( Ecclesiastes 1:13 ) ; and the reason [of things];
either in nature or providence: or the estimation ^F9 of them; the excellency of them, how much they are to be accounted of, esteemed, and valued; as Christ, the Wisdom of God, and all things relating to him, should; and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and]
madness;
the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the folly and madness that are in it; sin is the effect of folly, and the excess of it, and a spiritual madness; it is true of all sin in general, but especially of the sin of uncleanness, which Solomon seems to have in view by what follows; see ( Ecclesiastes 1:17 ) ( 2:12 ) ; and may chiefly intend the wickedness of his own folly, and the foolishness of his own madness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (yblw yna ytwbo) "circuivi ego et cor meum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
F9 (Nwbvx) "estimationem rerum", Mercerus.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 In-Context

23 I tested all of this by wisdom. I thought, I will be wise, but it eluded me.

24 All that happens is elusive and utterly unfathomable. Who can grasp it?

25 I turned my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom, along with an account of things, to know that wickedness is foolishness and folly is madness.

26 I found one woman more bitter than death: she who is a trap, her heart a snare, her hands shackles. Anyone who pleases God escapes her, but a sinner is trapped by her.

27 See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, examining one matter after another to account for things.