Ecclesiastes 7:25

25 I compassed all things with my soul (I put my mind upon everything, yea), to know, and to behold, and (to) seek (out) wisdom, and reason, and to know the wickedness of a fool, and the error of unprudent men.

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 assayed all things in wisdom; I said, I shall be made wise, and it went away further from me (I said, I shall be made wise, but it went farther away from me),

24 much more than it was; and the depth is low, who shall find it? (much more than it was before; and to such a depth, yea, so low down, that who shall ever be able to find it?)

25 I compassed all things with my soul (I put my mind upon everything, yea), to know, and to behold, and (to) seek (out) wisdom, and reason, and to know the wickedness of a fool, and the error of unprudent men.

26 And I found a woman bitterer than death, the which is (like) the snare of hunters, and her heart is (like) a net, and her hands be (like) bonds; he that pleaseth God shall escape her, but he that is a sinner, shall be taken of her. (And I found a woman more bitter than death, who is like a hunter's snare, and her heart is like a net, and her hands be like bonds; he who pleaseth God shall escape her, but he who is a sinner shall be caught by her.)

27 Lo! I found this, said Ecclesiastes, (concerning) one (thing) and (an)other, that I should find (the) reason,