Ecclesiastes 2:13
Ecclesiastes 2:13 in Multiple Translations
And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways — as the light is better than the dark.
I recognized that wisdom is better than foolishness just as light is better than darkness.
Then I saw that there is profite in wisdome, more then in follie: as the light is more excellent then darkenes.
And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.
And I thought, “Surely it is better to be wise than to be foolish, like light is better than darkness,
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 2:13
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 2:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/רָאִ֣יתִי
אָ֔נִי
שֶׁ/יֵּ֥שׁ
יִתְר֛וֹן
לַֽ/חָכְמָ֖ה
מִן
הַ/סִּכְל֑וּת
כִּֽ/יתְר֥וֹן
הָ/א֖וֹר
מִן
הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ
וְ/רָאִ֣יתִי
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
אָ֔נִי
ʼănîy
H589
I
Pron
שֶׁ/יֵּ֥שׁ
yêsh
H3426
there
Rel | Part
יִתְר֛וֹן
yithrôwn
H3504
advantage
N-ms
לַֽ/חָכְמָ֖ה
chokmâh
H2451
wisdom
Prep | N-fs
מִן
min
H4480
from
Prep
הַ/סִּכְל֑וּת
çiklûwth
H5531
folly
Art | N-fs
כִּֽ/יתְר֥וֹן
yithrôwn
H3504
advantage
Prep | N-ms
הָ/א֖וֹר
ʼôwr
H216
light
Art | N-cs
מִן
min
H4480
from
Prep
הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ
chôshek
H2822
darkness
Art | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 2:13
וְ/רָאִ֣יתִי
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
אָ֔נִי
ʼănîy
H589
"I"
Pron
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.
שֶׁ/יֵּ֥שׁ
yêsh
H3426
"there"
Rel | Part
This Hebrew word means 'there is' or 'there are', used to show existence or being. It appears in various forms, like 'to be' or 'to have'. In the Bible, it's used in Genesis and Psalms to describe God's presence.
Definition: 1) being, existence, substance, there is or are 1a) substance 1b) existence 1c) there is or are Aramaic equivalent: i.tay (אִיתַי "there is" H0383)
Usage: Occurs in 129 OT verses. KJV: (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest. See also: Genesis 18:24; Nehemiah 5:2; Psalms 7:4.
יִתְר֛וֹן
yithrôwn
H3504
"advantage"
N-ms
This word means advantage or gain, describing something that is profitable or excellent. It is used to describe preeminence and superiority. In the Bible, it is used to describe the benefits of following God's ways.
Definition: advantage, profit, excellency
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able). See also: Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ecclesiastes 10:11.
לַֽ/חָכְמָ֖ה
chokmâh
H2451
"wisdom"
Prep | N-fs
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. See also: Exodus 28:3; Proverbs 5:1; Psalms 37:30.
מִן
min
H4480
"from"
Prep
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.
הַ/סִּכְל֑וּת
çiklûwth
H5531
"folly"
Art | N-fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to foolish or silly behavior, like in Proverbs 9:13-18, where it describes the folly of a foolish woman. It can also mean a foolish or senseless act. English Bibles often translate it as 'folly' or 'foolishness'.
Definition: folly, foolishness Another spelling of sikh.lut (סִכְלוּת "folly" H5531B)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: folly, foolishness. See also: Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 10:13.
כִּֽ/יתְר֥וֹן
yithrôwn
H3504
"advantage"
Prep | N-ms
This word means advantage or gain, describing something that is profitable or excellent. It is used to describe preeminence and superiority. In the Bible, it is used to describe the benefits of following God's ways.
Definition: advantage, profit, excellency
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able). See also: Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ecclesiastes 10:11.
הָ/א֖וֹר
ʼôwr
H216
"light"
Art | N-cs
Light, including natural light from the sun or stars, and also spiritual light from God. It can refer to happiness, prosperity, or understanding. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of light and life.
Definition: 1) light 1a) light of day 1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars) 1c) day-break, dawn, morning light 1d) daylight 1e) lightning 1f) light of lamp 1g) light of life 1h) light of prosperity 1i) light of instruction 1j) light of face (fig.) 1k) Jehovah as Israel's light
Usage: Occurs in 110 OT verses. KJV: bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun. See also: Genesis 1:3; Psalms 78:14; Psalms 4:7.
מִן
min
H4480
"from"
Prep
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.
הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ
chôshek
H2822
"darkness"
Art | N-ms
This word refers to darkness, both physical and spiritual. It can also mean misery, destruction, or wickedness. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a state of being without light or hope.
Definition: 1) darkness, obscurity 1a) darkness 1b) secret place
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: dark(-ness), night, obscurity. See also: Genesis 1:2; Psalms 35:6; Psalms 18:12.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 2:13
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 2:13 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Context — The Wise and the Foolish
11Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
12Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
13And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:
14The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both. 15So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ephesians 5:8 | For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 7:11–12 | Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun. For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. |
| 3 | Matthew 6:23 | But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 11:7 | Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. |
| 5 | Malachi 3:18–2 | — |
| 6 | Psalms 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. |
| 7 | Luke 11:34–35 | Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. |
| 8 | Proverbs 16:16 | How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. |
| 9 | Psalms 119:130 | The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple. |
| 10 | Ecclesiastes 9:16 | And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” |
Ecclesiastes 2:13 Summary
This verse means that being wise is better than being foolish, just like light is better than darkness. Wisdom helps us make good choices and live in a way that honors God, as seen in Proverbs 3:1-6. By seeking wisdom through reading God's word and applying its principles to our lives, we can live a more fulfilling and meaningful life, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11. Just like the author of Ecclesiastes, we can recognize the value of wisdom and seek to live in a way that reflects it, as seen in Matthew 7:24-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for wisdom to exceed folly in Ecclesiastes 2:13?
In this verse, the author is highlighting the superiority of wisdom over foolishness, just as light is superior to darkness, as seen in the contrast between light and darkness in Isaiah 9:2 and John 1:5.
How does this verse relate to the idea of knowledge and understanding in the Bible?
The Bible teaches that true wisdom and knowledge come from fearing God, as seen in Proverbs 1:7 and Psalms 111:10, and this verse emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom over foolishness.
What is the significance of the comparison between light and darkness in this verse?
The comparison between light and darkness is a common biblical motif, seen in Isaiah 5:20 and 1 John 1:5-7, and it represents the contrast between good and evil, truth and falsehood, and wisdom and folly.
How can we apply the principle of seeking wisdom over folly in our daily lives?
By seeking wisdom through reading God's word, such as in Psalms 119:97-104, and by applying its principles to our lives, we can make wise decisions and live in a way that honors God, as seen in Colossians 1:9-10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am choosing folly over wisdom, and how can I make a change?
- How can I cultivate a deeper fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 1:7?
- What are some ways that I can seek wisdom and understanding, such as through reading Scripture and seeking guidance from others, as seen in Proverbs 11:14?
- How can I balance the pursuit of wisdom with the recognition that true wisdom comes from God, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25?
- What are some ways that I can share my wisdom with others, such as through teaching or mentoring, as seen in Titus 2:3-5?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Then I sat that wisdom excelleth folly,.... However, this upon a review of things he could not but own, that natural wisdom and knowledge, though there was no true happiness and satisfaction in them,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Then I saw; or, yet I saw; for this is added to prevent an Objection or mistake. Wisdom excelleth folly; although wisdom is not sufficient to make men truly and perfectly happy, yet it is of a far greater use and excellency than vain pleasures, or any other follies. As far as light excelleth darkness, i.e. vastly and unspeakably. Light is very pleasant and comfortable, and withal of great necessity and singular use to discover the differences of persons and things, to prevent mistakes and dangers, and to direct all a man’ s paths in the right way; whereas darkness is in itself doleful, and leads men into innumerable confusions, and errors, and miseries.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.Ver. 13. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly,] i.e., Philosophy and human wisdom, though it cannot perfect the mind, nor make a man happy, yet it is as far beyond sensuality and brutishness as light is beyond darkness. Those that seek for the philosopher’ s stone, though they miss their end, yet they find many excellent things by the way. So philosophers, politicians, moralists, though they missed the "pearl of price," yet they sought out other "goodly pearls" (with that wise merchant, Matthew 13:45), for the which they have their just praise and profit:
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
(13) Wisdom surely has an advantage over folly, yet how full of “vanity” is that advantage. Let the wise man have done his best, soon death comes; the wise man is forgotten, and all he has gained by his labour passes, without labour, into the hands of one who may be no inheritor of his wisdom. Excelleth.—There is profit in wisdom more than in folly. The same word “profit” is used as in Ecclesiastes 5:11. (See Note on Ecclesiastes 1:3.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
Verse 13. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly] Though in none of these pursuits I found the supreme good, the happiness my soul longed after; yet I could easily perceive that wisdom excelled the others, as far as light excels darkness. And he immediately subjoins the reasons.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:13
13. I saw that wisdom excelleth folly] Better, as keeping up, in the English as in the Hebrew, the characteristic word of the book, There is profit in wisdom more than in folly, and so in the second clause. Something then had been gained by the experience. In language like that of the Stoics he sings the praises of wisdom. Even the wisdom that brings sorrow (ch. Ecclesiastes 1:13) is better than the mirth of fools. A man is conscious of being more truly man when he looks before and after, and knows how to observe. Light is, after all, better than darkness, even if it only shews us that we are treading the path that leads to nothingness. The human heart obeys its instincts when it cries out with Aias, ἐνδὲφάεικαὶὄλεσσον.“And if our fate be death, give light, and let us die.”Hom. Il. xvii. 647.
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13
13. Wisdom excelleth folly — The verdict follows the comparison.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:13
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A Life Changing Prayer by Charles Stanley | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of ceaseless prayer and provides a six-fold request for believers to pray for one another. He encourages fathers and mothers t |
|
Be Ye Holy for I Am Holy by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being transformed and renewed in our minds to align with God's will. He quotes from 1 Peter 1:14, urging believers to be o |
|
1 John - Grace of Fellowship by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of young people knowing and understanding the word of God. He explains that as believers grow in their faith, they will inevi |
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Family Series Part 2 (Honor, the Gateway to Blessings) by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of fathers spending quality time with their children, particularly on weekends. He argues that all truth is revealed truth, m |
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Confronting the Homosexual Agenda by Michael L. Brown | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the spiritual state of young people in America, as revealed by a survey conducted by George Barna. The survey found that many young people hav |
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(Exodus) Exodus 25:31-40 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of worshiping God and walking in the light. He compares the lampstand in the tabernacle to Christ, describing it as a perfect |
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Do I Believe (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of walking in the light and not focusing on one's weaknesses and abilities. He refers to the story of the 10 spies who gave a |