Ecclesiastes 1:17 kjv

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 nkjv

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 niv

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 esv

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 nlt

So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 17 Meaning

The verse conveys the Preacher's profound effort and dedication to understand the full spectrum of existence through intellectual pursuit. He immersed himself in gaining knowledge, encompassing not only traditional wisdom but also venturing into the realms of madness and folly. Despite this comprehensive intellectual endeavor, his conclusion was one of ultimate futility and dissatisfaction, likened to the unsatisfying act of chasing after wind. It marks a critical step in his empirical investigation into what brings lasting meaning "under the sun," only to find it wanting.

Ecclesiastes 1 17 Context

Ecclesiastes is a unique book presenting the "Preacher's" (Qoheleth, often identified with King Solomon) relentless philosophical quest to discover what lasting profit or ultimate meaning exists "under the sun," that is, from a purely human, earthly perspective, without explicit divine revelation initially factored in. Chapter 1 sets the melancholic tone, introducing the concept of hevel (vanity, futility, meaninglessness, a fleeting breath or vapor) and listing initial observations of life's monotonous cycles (Ecc 1:4-11) and the frustration inherent in increasing knowledge (Ecc 1:16-18). Verse 17 is a key part of the Preacher's detailed personal experiment (Ecc 1:12-2:26) where he systematically tests every major avenue of human endeavor—intellectual, hedonistic, and industrious—to find lasting satisfaction. Here, he explores the intellectual path, determined to grasp the essence of both wisdom and folly.

Ecclesiastes 1 17 Word analysis

• And I gave my heart (וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־לִבִּי, `wə·nā·ṯat·tî ’eṯ-lib·bî`): `נָתַתִּי` (`nāṯattî`): "I gave" or "I set." It implies intentional, dedicated commitment and direction. This isn't a passive interest but an active pursuit, a deliberate application of one's entire being. `לִבִּי` (`libbî`): "My heart." In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (levav) is not merely the seat of emotions but also the center of the intellect, will, reason, and moral character. So, "gave my heart" means he fully devoted his mind, will, and intellect to this inquiry. It signifies a profound, holistic mental and spiritual exertion.
• to know wisdom (לָדַעַת חָכְמָה, `lā·ḏa·‘aṯ ḥā·ḵə·māh`): `לָדַעַת` (`lāḏa‘at`): "To know," "to understand," "to discern." It implies gaining thorough comprehension through study and experience. `חָכְמָה` (`ḥokmāh`): "Wisdom." In a general sense, practical skill, shrewdness, insight, accumulated knowledge, discerning between good and evil, and applying knowledge effectively. Here, it refers to human wisdom or intellectual capacity developed "under the sun," gained through observation and reasoning, as distinct from divinely revealed wisdom.
• and to know madness (וְהוֹלֵלוֹת, `wə·hô·lê·lōwṯ`): `וְהוֹלֵלוֹת` (`wəhôlēlōwṯ`): "And madness." While the root means "to praise" or "to boast," in the Hiphil stem (as `hôlēlōwṯ`), it signifies "to act madly" or "crazily," characterized by rashness, irrationality, and self-indulgent foolishness. The Preacher isn't advocating participation in madness but sought to comprehend its nature and consequences, possibly by observing its manifestations, much like a researcher would study a phenomenon. He wanted to understand its limits and what it yields.
• and folly (וְסִכְלוּת, `wə·siḵ·lūṯ`): `וְסִכְלוּת` (`wəśiḵlût`): "And folly" or "stupidity." This term refers to intellectual dullness, a lack of sound judgment, or an action arising from such a deficit. It contrasts with `ḥokmāh` and can range from naive ignorance to willful senselessness. Its inclusion alongside `hôlēlût` suggests Qoheleth wanted to understand the full range of non-wisdom.
• I perceived that (רָאִיתִי שֶׁגַּם, `rā·’î·ṯî šə·gam`): `רָאִיתִי` (`rā’îtî`): "I saw" or "I perceived." This indicates a conclusion reached through observation, experience, and logical deduction. It’s an empirical finding from his diligent search. `שֶׁגַּם` (`šeḡam`): "That also." The "also" is significant; it links this finding with his previous declarations of futility regarding other pursuits. This intellectual quest is another endeavor found to be ultimately pointless from an earthly perspective.
• this also is vexation of spirit (זֶה רַעְיוֹן רוּחַ, `zeh ra‘·yōwn rū·aḥ`): `זֶה` (`zeh`): "This." Refers to the entire preceding pursuit: the intense application of heart to know wisdom, madness, and folly. `רַעְיוֹן רוּחַ` (`raʿyon rûaḥ`): "Vexation of spirit," "striving after wind," "a chasing after wind," or "feeding on wind." This is a crucial Hebrew idiom throughout Ecclesiastes. It implies: Futility/Emptiness: The activity is pointless; it yields no lasting, tangible result, like trying to hold onto the wind. Insubstantiality: What is pursued lacks true substance or lasting value. Frustration/Dissatisfaction: The effort expended results in weariness and dissatisfaction, not fulfillment. It profoundly summarizes Qoheleth's central theme that life's endeavors "under the sun," without God, are ultimately empty and leave the human soul unfulfilled.

Ecclesiastes 1 17 Bonus section

The Preacher's method in Ecclesiastes is often described as "empirical" or "experimental." He isn't making dogmatic statements from the outset but meticulously testing hypotheses about where true value or profit (yitron) can be found. This verse, therefore, represents a personal account of his intellectual experiment and its result. Unlike Proverbs, which largely presents wisdom as straightforward and always beneficial, Ecclesiastes delves into the limits and sorrows associated with human wisdom when pursued as an end in itself. It highlights that an increased understanding of life's complexities can, in fact, lead to more sorrow, not less. This perspective subtly challenges a purely humanistic view of enlightenment, suggesting that mental advancement alone cannot bring the peace and lasting fulfillment that humanity seeks. It implicitly argues for a transcendent framework necessary for genuine contentment and purpose.

Ecclesiastes 1 17 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:17 marks a pivotal stage in the Preacher's investigative journey into the essence of human existence. Having found little profit in the cyclical patterns of nature and the common toil of man, he now turns his comprehensive focus to intellectual pursuits. He doesn't merely dabble in wisdom but fully commits his "heart"—his entire being, intellect, and will—to acquire knowledge. His pursuit is thorough, extending beyond conventional wisdom to explore the very boundaries of human reason: madness and folly. This implies a rigorous, almost scientific, approach to understanding the entire spectrum of human intellect and behavior.

However, his painstaking analysis yields a sobering conclusion: gam zeh raʿyon rûaḥ. The "also" indicates that this intellectual quest joins his previous observations of earthly cycles and toils as being ultimately futile and dissatisfying, like attempting to grasp the wind. While gaining knowledge might offer temporary insights or practical benefits, it does not provide ultimate meaning, lasting joy, or fulfillment for the human soul when detached from a divine perspective. The verse underscores that even the highest intellectual achievements and comprehensive understanding "under the sun" fall short of answering the deepest questions of purpose and satisfaction. This sets the stage for the Preacher's continued search beyond these earthly bounds.