Ecclesiastes 7:27
Ecclesiastes 7:27 in Multiple Translations
“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;
Look! this I have seen, said the Preacher, taking one thing after another to get the true account,
This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,
See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason
“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
This is what I have learned: I tried to learn more and more about things to try to find out the reason for everything,
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 7:27
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 7:27 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
רְאֵה֙
זֶ֣ה
מָצָ֔אתִי
אָמְרָ֖ה
קֹהֶ֑לֶת
אַחַ֥ת
לְ/אַחַ֖ת
לִ/מְצֹ֥א
חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן
רְאֵה֙
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
זֶ֣ה
zeh
H2088
this
Pron
מָצָ֔אתִי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
אָמְרָ֖ה
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
קֹהֶ֑לֶת
qôheleth
H6953
preacher
N-ms
אַחַ֥ת
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
לְ/אַחַ֖ת
ʼechâd
H259
one
Prep | Adj
לִ/מְצֹ֥א
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן
cheshbôwn
H2808
explanation
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 7:27
רְאֵה֙
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
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.
זֶ֣ה
zeh
H2088
"this"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
מָצָ֔אתִי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in 1b2b) to be in the possession of 1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be 1b2d) to be left (after war) 1b2e) to be present 1b2f) to prove to be 1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to find, attain 1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come 1c3) to cause to encounter 1c4) to present (offering)
Usage: Occurs in 425 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. See also: Genesis 2:20; Deuteronomy 22:3; 2 Kings 9:35.
אָמְרָ֖ה
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
קֹהֶ֑לֶת
qôheleth
H6953
"preacher"
N-ms
A preacher or teacher, like the writer of Ecclesiastes who shared wisdom with the people of Israel.
Definition: collector (of sentences), preacher, public speaker, speaker in an assembly, Qoheleth
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: preacher. See also: Ecclesiastes 1:1; Ecclesiastes 7:27; Ecclesiastes 12:10.
אַחַ֥ת
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
לְ/אַחַ֖ת
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Prep | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
לִ/מְצֹ֥א
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in 1b2b) to be in the possession of 1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be 1b2d) to be left (after war) 1b2e) to be present 1b2f) to prove to be 1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to find, attain 1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come 1c3) to cause to encounter 1c4) to present (offering)
Usage: Occurs in 425 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. See also: Genesis 2:20; Deuteronomy 22:3; 2 Kings 9:35.
חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן
cheshbôwn
H2808
"explanation"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to a reckoning or accounting, implying intelligence and reasoning, as seen in its various translations throughout the Bible.
Definition: account, reasoning, reckoning
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: account, device, reason. See also: Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 7:27; Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 7:27
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Context — The Limits of Human Wisdom
25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
27“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
28While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman. 29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 12:8–10 | “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!” Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 1:1–2 | These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” |
Ecclesiastes 7:27 Summary
This verse is saying that the Teacher has been trying to figure out the meaning of life by looking at many different things and trying to understand how they fit together, similar to what is encouraged in Romans 1:20. He's been searching for answers and trying to make sense of the world, and he wants to share what he's learned with us, as seen in Ecclesiastes 12:9-10. The Teacher is showing us that wisdom and understanding come from being diligent and intentional in our pursuit of knowledge, and from trusting in God's sovereignty, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6. By following the Teacher's example, we can learn to trust in God's plan and to seek wisdom in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Teacher mean by 'adding one thing to another to find an explanation'?
The Teacher is describing a methodical and intentional approach to understanding, similar to what is encouraged in Proverbs 24:3-4, where wisdom is gained through diligent effort and attention to detail.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse serves as a transitional statement, where the Teacher reflects on the discoveries made in the preceding verses, such as the dangers of a seductive woman in Ecclesiastes 7:26, and prepares to share more insights in the following verses.
What is the significance of the Teacher's personal discovery in this verse?
The Teacher's personal discovery highlights the importance of personal experience and reflection in the pursuit of wisdom, as seen in Psalm 119:99, where the psalmist attributes his understanding to the experiences and teachings he has received.
How can we apply the Teacher's method of discovery to our own lives?
We can apply the Teacher's method by being diligent and intentional in our own pursuit of wisdom, as encouraged in Ephesians 5:15-17, where believers are called to make the most of every opportunity and to understand the will of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can 'add one thing to another' in my own pursuit of wisdom and understanding?
- How can I balance the need for personal experience and reflection with the importance of seeking guidance from others, as seen in Proverbs 11:14?
- What are some potential pitfalls or dangers that I should be aware of as I seek to understand and explain the world around me, as warned in Ecclesiastes 7:26?
- How can I cultivate a mindset of curiosity and diligence in my own pursuit of wisdom, as seen in the example of the Teacher?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Behold, this have I found,.... That a harlot is more bitter than death; and which he found by his own experience, and therefore would have it observed by others for their caution: or one man among a
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: This have I found - namely, what is stated in the previous part of the book (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Behold; it is a strange thing, and worthy of your serious observation. The preacher; or, the penitent, who speaks what he hath learned, both by deep, study and costly experience. Counting one by one; considering things or persons very exactly and distinctly, one after another; and not only in general and confusedly, in which case a man may very easily be mistaken; and comparing them together, whereby I was enabled to make the truer judgment of them. To find out the account, that I might make a true and just estimate in this matter. Or, as it is in the margin:, and was rendered , the reason, to wit, of that which I am about to say. I considered the persons severally and critically, that from thence I might understand the reason of the thing.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Ecclesiastes 7:27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:Ver. 27. Behold, this I have found.] Eυρηκα, Eυρηκα, ‘ I have found it, I have found it,’ said the philosopher. Vicimus, Vicimus, We have prevailed, we have prevailed, said Luther, when he had been praying in his closet for the good success of the consultation about religion in Germany. So the Preacher here, having by diligence set open the door of truth, cries, Venite, videte, Come and see my discoveries, in the making whereof I have been very exact, "counting one by one," ne mole obruerer, lest I should be oppressed with many things at once. Aperit sibi diligentia ianuam veritatis. - Amb.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
Verse 27. Counting one by one] I have gone over every particular. I have compared one thing with another; man with woman, his wisdom with her wiles; his strength with her blandishments; his influence with her ascendancy; his powers of reason with her arts and cunning; and in a thousand men, I have found one thoroughly upright man; but among one thousand women I have not found one such. This is a lamentable account of the state of morals in Judea, in the days of the wise King Solomon. Thank God! it would not be difficult to get a tithe of both in the same number in the present day. The Targum gives this a curious turn: - "There is another thing which my soul has sought, but could not find: a man perfect and innocent, and without corruption, from the days of Adam until Abraham the just was born; who was found faithful and upright among the thousand kings who came together to construct the tower of Babel: but a woman like to Sarah among the wives of all those kings I have not found."
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 7:27
27. saith the Preacher] The passage is remarkable as being the solitary instance in the book in which the name Koheleth, feminine in form, yet elsewhere treated as masculine, is joined with the feminine form of the verb. It is possible, however, that this may be only an error of transcription, the transfer of a single letter from the end of one word to the beginning of another, restoring the verse to the more common construction, as found, e. g. in chap. Ecclesiastes 12:8, where, as here, adopting this reading, the article is prefixed to the word Koheleth, elsewhere treated as a proper name. counting one by one] The words remind us, on the one hand, of Diogenes the Cynic, with his lantern, looking for an honest man at Athens, and answering, when asked where such men might be found, that good men were to be found nowhere, and good boys only in Sparta (Diog. Laert. vi. 2. 27); and on the other, of Jeremiah’s search to see “if there were any in Jerusalem that sought after God” (Jeremiah 5:1-5). The words, as it were, drag their slow length along, as if expressing the toil and weariness of the search. And after all he had failed to find.
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:27
27. This have I found — He shows that his view is the result of sober examination of both sexes, looking for the result by weighing individual instances.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 7:27
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Homily 12 on Ephesians by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of living a life separate from the ways of the world, urging believers to walk in the path of God and not in the vanity of their minds lik |
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The Tragedy of Third Generation Religion by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead preaches on the tragedy of third-generation religion, using Judges chapter 2 to illustrate how the Israelites turned to idols despite witnessing God's miracles. He e |
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The Great Contradiction and Failure. 6:1-12 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the Preacher reflects on the futility and emptiness of pursuing worldly riches, honor, and pleasures, ultimately finding them to be vanity and a chas |