Ecclesiastes 2 16

Ecclesiastes 2:16 kjv

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

Ecclesiastes 2:16 nkjv

For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!

Ecclesiastes 2:16 niv

For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!

Ecclesiastes 2:16 esv

For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!

Ecclesiastes 2:16 nlt

For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 16 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:16 expresses the Teacher's observation that the ultimate fate of all humanity, whether wise or foolish, is the same: death and eventual oblivion from human memory. Despite the distinct value and benefits of wisdom during one's lifetime, death negates these earthly distinctions, and eventually, the remembrance of both the wise and the fool perishes. This leads to the stark conclusion that from an "under the sun" perspective, life's achievements, even wisdom, do not secure lasting renown or immortality of human memory.

Ecclesiastes 2 16 Context

Ecclesiastes 2:16 appears within Qoheleth's (the Teacher's) detailed account of his experimental quest for meaning "under the sun" in chapter 2. Having explored various avenues for satisfaction—pleasure, laughter, wine, grand building projects, accumulating wealth, music, and vast wisdom—he concludes that all these endeavors are "vanity" (hebel) and "a chasing after wind" (Eccl 2:1, 11). Verse 16 specifically follows his realization that while wisdom is superior to folly in terms of practical advantage during life (Eccl 2:13), this advantage is ultimately nullified by the shared fate of death. The Teacher expresses despair over the brevity of human existence and the eventual disappearance of one's memory from the earth, which diminishes the ultimate value of wisdom's superiority from a purely earthly viewpoint. Historically, ancient cultures placed significant value on leaving a lasting name or legacy, often through descendants, monuments, or achievements. Qoheleth challenges this very human desire, concluding that earthly remembrance is impermanent for everyone.

Ecclesiastes 2 16 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kiy): A connective particle often meaning "because" or "indeed." Here, it introduces the reason for the Teacher's previous lamentation (Eccl 2:15) regarding the futility of even wisdom.
• of the wise man (לֶחָכָם, lěchakham): From חָכָם (chakham), meaning "wise person" or "sage." This is a key term in Old Testament wisdom literature, generally connoting practical skill, discernment, and moral integrity leading to a good life. Here, Qoheleth specifically questions the ultimate value of such a designation in light of death.
• even as of the fool (אֵין יוֹתֵר לַכְּסִיל, ein yōtēr lakkesil): Here "even as" is inferred; the phrase is literally "no more to the fool." Fool comes from כְּסִיל (kĕsîl), referring to an obstinate, thickheaded, morally insensitive individual, distinct from a simpleton (פְּתִי, pĕthî) or scoffer (לֵץ, lēṣ). The striking parallelism emphasizes their shared destiny.
• there is no more remembrance (אֵין זִכְרוֹן, ein zikrôn / זֵכֶר, zeker): זִכְרוֹן (zikrôn) or זֵכֶר (zeker) means "memory," "remembrance," or "memorial." The negation "no more" highlights the ultimate fading away from human consciousness.
• forever (לְעוֹלָם, lĕ‘ôlām): This word, while often meaning "eternally" or "everlasting" when referring to God, can also denote "a very long time," "perpetually," or "unto ages." In this context, it refers to human memory failing over a prolonged, indefinite period of future generations, not an absolute cessation for all eternity in every possible sense (e.g., God's memory). It speaks of the human inability to sustain remembrance.
• seeing that (שֶׁ־, she-): A relative pronoun, acting here to introduce the explanatory clause.
• in the days to come (בַּיָּמִים הַבָּאִים, bayyāmîm habbā'îm): Literally "in the coming days" or "in future days." This refers to subsequent generations who will forget.
• all (הַכֹּל, hakkol): Meaning "the whole," "everything," or "all of it." In context, "all people" or "all memory concerning them."
• will have been forgotten (נִשְׁכַּח, nishkaḥ): This is a passive form of שָׁכַח (shakach), meaning "to forget." The passive implies that the process of forgetting simply happens; it is an inevitable decay of human memory.
• How (וְאֵיךְ, vĕ'eikh): An exclamatory "How!" or "And how!" expressing a sense of dismay, frustration, or tragic wonder. It reinforces Qoheleth's distress over this ultimate equivalence.
• does the wise man die even as the fool! (יָמוּת הֶחָכָם עִם־הַכְּסִיל, yamut hechakam ‘im-hakkesil): A forceful rhetorical question, mirroring the opening assertion and serving as the conclusion to the thought. "Die" (יָמוּת, yamut) highlights the universality of death. "Even as" (עִם־, ‘im-), meaning "with" or "alongside," explicitly links the wise and the foolish in their ultimate shared demise.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no more remembrance forever: This phrase sets up the core problem: the erosion of distinction between wisdom and folly when faced with death's common leveling effect on human memory. It's a direct challenge to the ancient cultural value of securing lasting renown.
• seeing that in the days to come all will have been forgotten: This explains how the remembrance ceases. It’s not an instantaneous vanishing but a gradual fade into oblivion through succeeding generations. The inevitability is emphasized by "all" being forgotten.
• How does the wise man die even as the fool!: This powerful exclamation concludes the thought, conveying the Teacher's dismay and frustration. It summarizes the profound leveling effect of mortality, robbing earthly wisdom of its lasting terrestrial legacy.

Ecclesiastes 2 16 Bonus section

This verse powerfully expresses a viewpoint of existential despair common to many philosophical traditions outside of biblical faith. However, within the broader biblical context, particularly with the revelations of the New Testament, this seemingly bleak conclusion is a catalyst. Qoheleth, by demonstrating the futility of finding ultimate meaning under the sun, implicitly points beyond it. The Christian understanding provides that while human remembrance may fade, God's remembrance does not. Furthermore, the concept of a spiritual legacy (investing in eternity, God's kingdom, the Book of Life) offers a dimension of lasting significance that transcends the temporal oblivion described here. The temporary nature of earthly renown serves to highlight the eternal value found in Christ and in works done for His glory.

Ecclesiastes 2 16 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:16 is a pivotal verse in Qoheleth's argument concerning the "vanity" of life "under the sun." After exhaustively pursuing satisfaction in all earthly pleasures and accomplishments, including the acquisition of profound wisdom, he confronts the stark reality of human mortality. While wisdom undoubtedly offers advantages in navigating life—guiding one better than folly, providing foresight, and improving one's lot—this superiority is, from a purely temporal and earthly perspective, ultimately annulled by death.

The Teacher observes that despite a lifetime of prudent choices and intellectual achievement, the wise person ultimately succumbs to the same physical death as the foolish person. More profoundly, their remembrance among humanity is equally transient. Future generations, absorbed in their own affairs, will eventually forget the specific contributions and even the names of both the wise and the fool. This challenges deeply ingrained human desires for significance and a lasting legacy. Qoheleth is not denying the practical benefits of wisdom in life (he later states wisdom is better than folly, Eccl 7:12), but he is highlighting its limitation in securing ultimate meaning or eternal human remembrance.

This verse reveals a fundamental limit of wisdom qua human wisdom and effort. Without a transcendent reference point, human existence culminates in an unavoidable forgetfulness that renders all earthly striving, even that which seems superior, ultimately meaningless in terms of lasting earthly impact. It underscores the profound existential challenge that death poses to all human endeavor when viewed through a finite, material lens.