Ecclesiastes 1:13 kjv

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 nkjv

And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 niv

I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!

Ecclesiastes 1:13 esv

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 nlt

I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 13 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 1:13 describes Qoheleth's dedicated intellectual endeavor to comprehend everything that transpires on Earth through wisdom. He observes that this exhaustive pursuit is a burdensome, grievous task divinely imposed upon humanity, leading to a state of constant affliction or wearying engagement. This verse introduces his method of empirical observation and rational inquiry as he attempts to discern meaning in life, yet immediately conveys the arduous and unfulfilling nature of this quest under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1 13 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 1 sets the stage for Qoheleth’s (the Preacher/Teacher) overarching theme: "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." After an opening declaration (v. 1-2) and initial observations about the unchanging cycles of nature and human repetition (v. 4-11), Qoheleth, presenting himself as a king in Jerusalem with great wisdom (v. 12), launches into a personal account of his intellectual quest. Verse 13 details his rigorous method: dedicating himself to investigate all earthly activity using wisdom. He immediately identifies this pursuit as a difficult, God-given burden. This verse serves as a preamble to the experiments in life and pleasure that Qoheleth undertakes in the subsequent chapters, all aiming to find meaning "under heaven," a phrase pivotal to understanding the book's limited, earthly perspective. The historical-cultural context reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, but Qoheleth often subverts their typical optimism about wisdom’s ability to bring ultimate understanding or satisfaction when applied solely to the material world.

Ecclesiastes 1 13 Word analysis

• And I applied my heart (וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־לִבִּי, v'natatti et-libbi):
  • Applied my heart: This Hebrew idiom literally means "I gave my heart" or "I set my mind." It signifies intense, dedicated focus, wholehearted commitment, and profound engagement. It is not a superficial interest but a deep intellectual and existential endeavor. Qoheleth fully immersed himself in this task.
• to seek (לִדְרוֹשׁ, lidrosh):
  • Seek: To diligently search, inquire, investigate, or explore. This implies a systematic and earnest quest, often used for seeking truth or knowledge.
• and to search out (וְלָתוּר, v'latur):
  • Search out: To thoroughly explore, examine, or spy out. The term implies detailed inspection and reconnaissance, like someone meticulously exploring new territory. It conveys a comprehensive, almost exhaustive, investigation.
• by wisdom (בְּחָכְמָה, bechakmah):
  • Wisdom: (חָכְמָה, chakmah): Refers to the intellectual capacity for understanding, discernment, and practical skill. For Qoheleth, this is the primary tool by which he approaches his investigation of life. However, his findings often demonstrate the limits of this earthly wisdom without divine revelation.
• concerning all that is done under heaven (עַל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם, 'al kol-asher na'aseh tachat ha'shamayim):
  • Under heaven: This recurring phrase (used 29 times in Ecclesiastes) establishes the scope of Qoheleth's inquiry. It means "on earth" or "in the visible world," signifying an observation from a purely human, terrestrial viewpoint, largely divorced from an eternal or transcendent divine perspective. What is seen, done, and experienced in this world, without direct supernatural intervention or clear divine purpose being evident.
• It is a burdensome task (הוּא עִנְיַן רָע, hu inyan ra'):
  • Burdensome task: (עִנְיַן רָע, inyan ra'): The Hebrew inyan means "occupation," "business," "task," or "concern." Ra' means "evil," "bad," "calamitous," "grievous," or "unpleasant." The combination denotes a distressing, troublesome, miserable, or oppressive task. It is not just hard work, but a negative kind of work—frustrating, wearisome, and ultimately unsatisfying.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim):
  • God: The generic Hebrew term for God, rather than the covenant name YHWH. Qoheleth typically uses Elohim, reinforcing his observation of God's universal governance as creator and dispenser of tasks, without necessarily delving into a deep covenantal relationship or intimate personal revelation in his initial observation of this burden.
• has given (נָתַן, natan):
  • Has given: Implies God is the direct source or originator of this burdensome task. It is not a random occurrence but a divinely ordained condition for humanity.
• to the children of man (לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם, livnei ha'adam):
  • Children of man: A common Hebrew idiom for humanity, humankind in general. This emphasizes that the burdensome task is a universal human condition, not unique to Qoheleth.
• to be afflicted with (לַעֲנוֹת בָּהֶם, la'anot bahem):
  • To be afflicted with: (עָנָה, anah): The verb means "to humble," "to afflict," "to oppress," or "to weary." It suggests that humanity is continually wearied, vexed, or burdened by this task. It conveys the weariness, frustration, and oppressive weight that accompanies such an endless, unfulfilling search.

Words-group analysis:

• "And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom": This phrase portrays an extremely diligent, thorough, and analytical pursuit. It’s the highest level of intellectual effort the Preacher can muster, aiming to understand the universe through human reason.
• "concerning all that is done under heaven": Defines the boundaries of Qoheleth’s inquiry—everything within the earthly sphere of human experience and activity. This phrase inherently limits the perspective, implying that solutions or ultimate meanings might not be found within these confines alone.
• "It is a burdensome task God has given to the children of man to be afflicted with": This declaration is the core message of the verse. It establishes that the inherent difficulty and vexation of human effort, particularly the quest for meaning, is divinely appointed. It's not a self-imposed challenge, but part of the human condition ordained by the Creator, which brings a state of weariness and oppression.

Ecclesiastes 1 13 Bonus section

Qoheleth's use of Elohim rather than Yahweh reinforces his theological approach in Ecclesiastes. It presents God primarily as Creator and sovereign over the cosmic order, observing the effect of God's will on creation rather than focusing on a covenantal relationship or direct personal revelation as found elsewhere in Scripture. This contributes to the sense of detachment and intellectual observation prevalent in the book. The inyan ra' (burdensome task) can be seen as echoing the curse in Genesis 3, where toil and futility became inherent aspects of human existence after the fall, though here specifically applied to intellectual and existential pursuit. The entire verse sets up the foundational tension of the book: humans are given minds and the capacity for wisdom, yet their ultimate satisfaction is deliberately withheld from this earthly quest, pointing to a higher purpose or fulfillment that is "not under heaven." This verse also highlights a polemic against philosophical systems or wisdom traditions that promised inherent human capacity for finding ultimate answers without acknowledging divine design and its limitations for mankind.

Ecclesiastes 1 13 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:13 introduces Qoheleth's fundamental project: to intellectually scrutinize all human activity "under heaven." He is committed to an empirical investigation using his profound wisdom. Yet, he almost immediately prefaces his findings with a stark truth: this very act of seeking and searching, this business of trying to comprehend life’s mysteries, is a "burdensome task" divinely assigned to humanity. This "burdensome task" is more than just difficult labor; it signifies a frustrating, grievous, and even "bad" enterprise because it never yields ultimate satisfaction or conclusive understanding from an earthly perspective.

The divine imposition of this task (God has given) highlights a key aspect of Qoheleth’s theology: God is sovereign, actively involved in the human condition, even in ways that bring difficulty. This contrasts with common wisdom literature of the time that might have celebrated wisdom's power unconditionally. Instead, Qoheleth suggests that the very quest for wisdom, when confined to earthly realities, is part of humanity's divine lot, designed to humble and wear us out. It implies that true, lasting wisdom or contentment cannot be found solely through human intellectual striving within the material realm. This sets the stage for the recurring theme of "vanity" – a constant striving after elusive meaning that ultimately exhausts without truly fulfilling. It serves as a necessary humbling experience for humanity, directing the thoughtful individual beyond the temporal to seek meaning from a higher, transcendent source, which Qoheleth hints at later in the book (Ecc 12:13-14).

• Example: A brilliant scientist dedicates their entire life to finding a cure for a disease, only to find the research is endlessly complex and presents more questions than answers, leading to profound weariness despite their brilliance. This relentless, often frustrating, yet divinely appointed human effort, captures the essence of the "burdensome task."
• Example: An individual strives tirelessly for wealth and recognition, using all their intellectual capacity to navigate the complexities of life. While achieving successes, they find an inexplicable void and profound weariness, realizing their ultimate efforts have not brought the expected deep contentment or understanding, a weariness intrinsic to the task God has assigned humanity.