Ecclesiastes 2:13 kjv

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 nkjv

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 niv

I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 esv

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 nlt

I thought, "Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 13 Meaning

The verse posits that wisdom inherently offers a significant advantage over folly, just as light naturally excels darkness. This declares a pragmatic and observable superiority, meaning that living wisely is discernibly better and more beneficial than living foolishly, even within life’s apparent ultimate meaninglessness "under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 2 13 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 2 describes Qoheleth's extensive personal experiments to find ultimate meaning and satisfaction in life, which he consistently concludes is "vanity" or "futility." He describes pursuing pleasure, laughter, wine, amassing great possessions, constructing grand works, and acquiring vast wealth and servants. Despite the immense effort and temporary enjoyment, he finds that none of these endeavors provide lasting meaning or escape from the inevitable realities of life and death. Within this overarching narrative of futility "under the sun," verse 13 offers a notable qualification. After exhaustively detailing the failure of all other pursuits to yield genuine 'profit' (yitrôn), Qoheleth, through direct observation, acknowledges a practical advantage of wisdom over folly. This particular verse, then, serves as a point of exception within his general pessimistic outlook, recognizing a functional difference, even if the ultimate outcome for both wise and foolish (death) remains the same as discussed in the verses immediately following (2:14-16). Culturally, this perspective reflects ancient wisdom traditions that prized prudence and discernment, contrasting them with recklessness and foolishness, which were seen as leading to personal ruin.

Ecclesiastes 2 13 Word analysis

• Then I saw (וְרָאִיתִי, və·rā·’î·ṯî): "Saw" here signifies observation and a conclusion drawn from experiential wisdom, reinforcing the empirical nature of Qoheleth's quest. It implies a personal discovery and a considered judgment.
• that wisdom (שֶׁיִּתְרוֹן חָכְמָה, še·yiṯ·rôn ḥāḵmāh):
  • that (שֶׁ, še): A particle meaning "that" or "because," introducing the result of his observation.
  • wisdom (חָכְמָה, ḥāḵmāh): Practical skill, discernment, knowledge, and insightful judgment, encompassing moral, intellectual, and technical competence. In Ecclesiastes, it often refers to human-acquired knowledge and the skill to navigate life effectively.
• excels folly (מִסִּכְלוּת, mi·s̄iḵ·lût):
  • The concept of "excels" is conveyed by the noun "advantage" or "superiority" (yitrôn) already present in "that wisdom," making it "the advantage of wisdom" rather than an active verb "excels." The preposition "min" (מִ) denotes "from" or "than," indicating comparison.
  • folly (סִכְלוּת, s̄iḵ·lût): More than mere lack of knowledge, it denotes active foolishness, spiritual dullness, lack of moral sense, or perverse behavior that leads to self-destruction. It often implies a closed-mindedness to correction.
• as light (כְּיִתְרוֹן הָאוֹר, kə·yiṯ·rôn hā·’ôr):
  • as (כְּ, kə): Denotes comparison, "like" or "as."
  • light (הָאוֹר, hā·’ôr): Refers to physical light but serves as a powerful metaphor for knowledge, clarity, understanding, guidance, and safety. Light reveals truth and exposes darkness.
• excels darkness (מִן־הַחֹשֶׁךְ, min-ha·ḥō·šeḵ):
  • The "excels" is again implied by the comparative nature of yitrôn.
  • darkness (הַחֹשֶׁךְ, ha·ḥō·šeḵ): Refers to physical darkness, but metaphorically it symbolizes ignorance, confusion, evil, moral depravity, distress, or danger.

• "Then I saw that wisdom excels folly": This phrase highlights a fundamental observation. Despite Qoheleth's general despair regarding ultimate meaning, he cannot deny that a life guided by practical insight and discernment (wisdom) is objectively superior to one marked by foolishness. Wisdom enables better decision-making, greater efficiency, and avoiding pitfalls, leading to more desirable (though still temporal) outcomes than the chaos and ruin that foolishness brings.
• "as light excels darkness": This is a powerful, self-evident simile. Light universally brings clarity, reveals paths, ensures safety, and signifies life, while darkness implies blindness, confusion, danger, and often death. The analogy underscores the intuitive and undeniable superiority of wisdom over folly. Just as the inherent qualities of light make it fundamentally better than darkness, so the inherent nature and effects of wisdom make it profoundly superior to folly. It's an unarguable, natural hierarchy.

Ecclesiastes 2 13 Bonus section

• This verse acts as a pragmatic affirmation within a skeptical discourse. Despite his grand conclusion of "vanity," Qoheleth cannot ignore the observable benefits of choosing wisdom in daily life.
• The term yitrôn (advantage/profit) from Ecclesiastes 1:3 is revisited here. While there is no lasting yitrôn from toil "under the sun," there is a discernible yitrôn of wisdom over folly. This suggests a nuanced view: relative good exists even if absolute good eludes human grasp in this earthly existence.
• The passage sets the stage for the subsequent verses (2:14-16), where Qoheleth grapples with the troubling reality that both the wise and the foolish meet the same ultimate fate – death. This paradox makes the "advantage" of wisdom bittersweet, underscoring the limited nature of human achievement even at its best.
• The comparison to light and darkness taps into universal human experience, making the truth immediately accessible and powerful. It implies an intrinsic, unchangeable difference between the two states, directly mirroring the difference between wisdom and folly.

Ecclesiastes 2 13 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:13 offers a pragmatic, yet profoundly significant, conclusion within Qoheleth’s often somber observations on life’s futility. While acknowledging that neither wisdom nor folly can ultimately avert death or truly fulfill the deepest human longings "under the sun," Qoheleth makes a crucial distinction: practically, it is far better to possess wisdom. Wisdom, here, refers to discerning judgment, practical skill, and a prudent approach to life's challenges. Folly, by contrast, indicates a reckless, ignorant, or morally bankrupt way of living that invariably leads to adverse outcomes. The vivid analogy of light surpassing darkness underscores this point as a self-evident truth; light provides clarity, direction, and safety, whereas darkness breeds confusion, danger, and error. Thus, while the pursuit of wisdom may not grant eternal satisfaction or ultimate meaning, it offers undeniable practical advantages in navigating daily existence and minimizing suffering compared to the path of folly. This verse validates the effort expended in acquiring knowledge and discernment as the best way to live, even within a seemingly meaningless world. For example, a wise person navigates financial choices prudently, avoiding ruinous debt, unlike a fool. A wise person speaks thoughtfully, building relationships, unlike a fool who creates strife.