Ecclesiastes 2:9 kjv

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 nkjv

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 niv

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 esv

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 nlt

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 9 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:9 asserts the Preacher’s extraordinary personal achievements and material wealth, which surpassed all previous rulers in Jerusalem. Critically, he emphasizes that throughout his expansive pursuits and acquisitions, his God-given wisdom did not abandon him. This verse functions as a pinnacle statement of his worldly success and intellectual prowess, demonstrating that his subsequent conclusions about the vanity of earthly endeavors are drawn from a position of ultimate experience and enlightened understanding, rather than ignorance or lack of means. It highlights that even unparalleled human wisdom combined with limitless resources ultimately could not provide lasting satisfaction apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2 9 Context

Ecclesiastes 2:9 is situated within the Preacher’s "experimental" quest for meaning in life, specifically in chapter 2. After concluding that "everything is vanity" in chapter 1, he sets out to systematically test various earthly pursuits to see if they yield lasting satisfaction. He pursues pleasure, wine, immense building projects, accumulated wealth, and numerous servants and possessions (Eccl 2:1-8). Verse 9 acts as the grand culmination of his achievements within this pursuit, emphasizing the scale of his success. Crucially, the verse asserts that his wisdom—the divine gift he initially possessed (referencing the historical Solomon)—remained with him, allowing him to observe and evaluate these pursuits from a position of intellectual clarity, not blind indulgence. This controlled approach enhances the weight of his final verdict that even these seemingly ultimate attainments are ultimately "vanity and a striving after wind" (Eccl 2:11), providing no enduring good "under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 2 9 Word analysis

• So I became great (גָּֽדַ֙לְתִּי֙ - gadálti): The Hebrew verb root means "to become great," "to grow," or "to be magnified." It signifies an increase in size, importance, or status. Here, it implies an immense personal growth in power, influence, and material possession. The speaker asserts his significant ascent.
• and surpassed (וְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙ - wəhosáfti / עָשִׂ֤יתִי יוֹתֵר֙ - asíti yotér in some variations like MT; more accurately, asíti yotér means "I made more," which carries the sense of excelling or surpassing): The primary meaning is "to add" or "to do more." Combined with the comparative, it highlights an extreme level of achievement, indicating he exceeded all others.
• all who were before me (מִכֹּל֙ שֶׁהָי֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י - mikol shehayu ləfanay): Literally "from all who were before me." This emphasizes his unprecedented status. In the context of the Preacher as Solomon, it signifies surpassing even kings and figures like David, solidifying his unique position to conduct this existential experiment.
• in Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם - biyrūšālím): Specifying the location grounds his experiment within a historical and political reality. Jerusalem was the capital, the seat of power, and a cultural center, adding authenticity and historical weight to his claims.
• also my wisdom (אַף־ חָכְמָתִ֖י - ʾaf-ḥāḵmātî): "Also" (אַף - ʾaf) serves to emphasize or include this point as equally important. "Wisdom" (חָכְמָה - ḥāḵmāh) refers to God-given sagacity, skill, and insight, particularly as famously granted to Solomon. It’s distinct from mere intellect or cleverness.
• remained with me (עָֽמְדָה־ לִּֽי - ʿāmdāh-llî): "Remained" (עָֽמְדָה - ʿāmadāh) means "stood," "endured," or "persevered." This is a crucial detail, indicating that his pursuit of worldly pleasures and material goods did not diminish or corrupt his essential wisdom. It suggests a conscious and clear-headed observation throughout his "experiment," making his subsequent judgments all the more profound and authoritative. It implies his mind was clear enough to evaluate the futility of it all.

• "I became great and surpassed...": This phrase collectively represents the speaker's claim to unparalleled success and achievement in material and political spheres. It establishes his unique vantage point for the "experiment" discussed throughout Ecclesiastes. It suggests a purposeful acquisition of all worldly things to test their ultimate value.
• "all who were before me in Jerusalem": This reinforces the exceptional nature of his greatness. Historically, only King Solomon could truly make such a claim, aligning the Preacher with him and amplifying the scope and authority of his findings. The phrase highlights his position as the ultimate authority figure to draw such a comprehensive conclusion about human endeavors.
• "also my wisdom remained with me": This is arguably the most significant clause. It clarifies that his exhaustive search for meaning in pleasure and wealth was not done out of ignorance or folly but from a clear, discerning mind. It positions the Preacher not as a misguided hedonist but as a profound philosophical inquirer. This critical detail adds immense weight to his subsequent conclusions about "vanity," as these are not the bitter words of a failed adventurer but the informed assessment of someone who "had it all" and remained wise throughout the experience.

Ecclesiastes 2 9 Bonus section

The assertion in Ecclesiastes 2:9 regarding the Preacher's unique position and enduring wisdom validates the depth and authority of his ultimate conclusions throughout the book. Without this clause, one might argue that his declaration of "vanity" stems from a jaded perspective or a loss of intellectual capacity. However, the text emphasizes that his discerning faculties were fully active. This creates a powerful argument for the inherent limitations of human wisdom when pursued independently of ultimate divine purpose, demonstrating that even a Solomon-like mind cannot find lasting joy "under the sun" unless tethered to eternal truths found in God. It underscores the profound theological point that the greatest human attainments and intellect, absent reverent fear of God and obedience to His commands, inevitably lead to an existential void.

Ecclesiastes 2 9 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:9 encapsulates the Preacher's unparalleled worldly achievements and resources while critically stating that his inherent wisdom remained intact throughout his expansive "experiment" in seeking satisfaction from material possessions and sensory pleasures. This verse is key because it establishes the Preacher, often understood as King Solomon, as uniquely qualified to deliver the verdict on life "under the sun." He amassed more wealth, engaged in more ambitious projects, and pursued more diverse pleasures than anyone before him in Jerusalem. Yet, even while doing so, his exceptional intellectual and spiritual insight—the divine gift of wisdom—persisted. This prevents his subsequent conclusion of "vanity" from being dismissed as the grumbling of an unfulfilled individual who merely lacked the means or understanding. Instead, his finding that all such pursuits are ultimately empty (Eccl 2:11) comes from the perspective of one who tested the limits of human experience and found it wanting, despite the enduring presence of the very wisdom that should, ideally, guide to lasting fulfillment. His wisdom, while powerful in discerning the hollowness of worldly pursuits, could not, on its own, create meaning, pointing towards a deeper, God-centered truth.