Ecclesiastes 7 25

Ecclesiastes 7:25 kjv

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

Ecclesiastes 7:25 nkjv

I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 niv

So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 esv

I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 nlt

I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

Ecclesiastes 7 verses

Ecclesiastes 7 25 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 7:25 describes the Preacher's diligent and profound intellectual and spiritual quest. He intently applied himself to understand the essence of wisdom and the fundamental 'reason' or underlying structure of all things, not just on the surface level but down to their deepest causation. This relentless pursuit extended to examining the destructive nature of foolishness, even its most extreme and irrational forms of madness, to grasp the full spectrum of human behavior and existence. It signifies his comprehensive search for ultimate truth and order in the world, contrasting wisdom with its destructive counterpart.

Ecclesiastes 7 25 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 7 stands in a section where the Preacher (Koheleth) delves into various practical paradoxes and observations about life, righteousness, folly, and wisdom. Following reflections on the advantage of a good name, sorrow over laughter, and patience over pride, verse 25 introduces a return to his intense intellectual quest for deeper understanding. This verse specifically acts as a recap and reiteration of his methodical investigation into the core principles of wisdom and folly, setting the stage for his subsequent conclusions in verses 26-29 about the rarity of true righteousness and wisdom, particularly among humans, and the pervasive nature of folly. The context emphasizes his comprehensive and systematic approach to dissecting human experience to find ultimate meaning.

Ecclesiastes 7 25 Word analysis

• I turned my heart: Hebrew: נָתַתִּי אֶת־לִבִּי (natati et-libi). Literally "I gave my heart." This signifies not just a casual thought or interest but a profound, concentrated, and determined application of the mind, will, and innermost being. It speaks of a deep internal resolve and dedication to the task at hand, embodying complete intellectual and volitional commitment.
• to know: Hebrew: לָדַעַת (la'da'at). Implies gaining a deep, experiential comprehension rather than mere theoretical knowledge. It's about personal acquaintance and full apprehension.
• and to search: Hebrew: וְלָתוּר (ve'la'tur). Conveys the idea of exploring, scouting, or surveying, often implying a journey or systematic investigation over a broad area, as one would scout out a land for specific information.
• and to seek out: Hebrew: וּבַקֵּשׁ (u'vaqqesh). A more active and diligent search, often implying a desire to recover something lost or hidden. It suggests persistence and thoroughness, an earnest pursuit.
• wisdom: Hebrew: חָכְמָה (chochmah). Encompasses practical skill, moral insight, intellectual discernment, prudence, and understanding in managing life's complexities. In the biblical context, true wisdom often has a divine origin or orientation.
• and the reason: Hebrew: וְהֶשְׁבּוֹן (ve'heshbon). Means 'account,' 'calculation,' 'reckoning,' or 'device.' In this context, it refers to the underlying principle, rationale, cause, or intricate structure behind phenomena. The Preacher wants to grasp not just what things are, but why they are and how they truly work, their ultimate explanation or logic.
• of things: This is implied by the preceding Hebrew word 'heshbon,' which naturally refers to the calculation or reasoning of 'everything' or 'matters' at large. The scope is broad.
• and to know the wickedness: Hebrew: וְלָדַעַת רֶשַׁע (ve'la'da'at resha`). 'Resha' refers to wickedness, guilt, sin, or injustice. The Preacher sought to understand the inherent corrupt nature and destructive consequences of foolish behavior.
• of folly: Hebrew: כֶּסֶל (kesel). Denotes foolishness, stupidity, or silliness, often carrying moral culpability. It represents a state of being morally or intellectually obtuse, prone to poor judgment.
• even of madness: Hebrew: וְהַסִּכְלוּת הוֹלֵלוּת (ve'hassiklût hôlêlût). This phrase intensifies 'folly' (siklût - folly, senselessness) by pairing it with 'madness' or 'insanity' (hôlêlût). It speaks to the extreme, irrational, or even morally perverse end of the spectrum of human foolishness, a destructive insanity. Koheleth explored folly not just in its everyday manifestations but in its most deranged forms.

• "I turned my heart... to know and to search and to seek out": This three-verb construction emphasizes the rigorous, multifaceted, and deeply committed nature of the Preacher's investigation. It signifies a pursuit that is thorough, analytical, and relentless, using every intellectual and spiritual faculty at his disposal. He did not merely observe but engaged profoundly.
• "wisdom and the reason of things": These are the primary objectives of his quest. He sought not only the practical ability to navigate life wisely but also the ultimate underlying explanation and logic of the universe and human experience. He desires to penetrate beyond superficial appearances to discern the hidden coherence or meaning.
• "and to know the wickedness of folly, even of madness": This part reveals the comprehensive scope of his inquiry. He sought to understand not just the positive aspect (wisdom) but also its polar opposite (folly), recognizing that true understanding requires examining the corrupt and irrational extremes. This highlights the negative consequences and inherent destructive nature of deviating from wisdom. It suggests an analytical approach that contrasts light and darkness to fully define both.

Ecclesiastes 7 25 Bonus section

The Preacher's investigative methodology described here, utilizing the deepest parts of his being ("turned my heart"), demonstrates an ancient form of philosophical and spiritual inquiry. It mirrors later scientific and empirical approaches in its systematic seeking of underlying principles ("the reason of things"). However, unlike modern secular inquiry, his search is implicitly God-oriented, even if the explicit conclusion is often the limits of human understanding. The "wickedness of folly" points to the moral dimension inherently tied to intellect and choice in biblical thought—folly is not merely intellectual deficiency but a path that leads to spiritual and moral depravity. This verse sets the stage for the Preacher's later conclusion that genuine comprehensive understanding of all things is beyond human grasp, and ultimate "reason" resides in the incomprehensible divine plan. It foreshadows the New Testament concept that God has revealed His wisdom to believers through the Spirit, precisely because human wisdom alone is insufficient to apprehend His deep thoughts.

Ecclesiastes 7 25 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:25 captures the heart of Koheleth's philosophical and theological journey. It describes a profound and exhaustive personal commitment (the heart turned) to an intellectual endeavor, which is far from casual observation. The Preacher employs a triad of active verbs ("to know, to search, and to seek out") that denote a rigorous, systematic, and comprehensive investigation. His dual objectives were both theoretical and practical: "wisdom" (the skillful art of living rightly) and "the reason of things" (the underlying 'account' or explanation for life's complexities). This indicates his desire for not just how to act, but why things operate the way they do, searching for an ultimate blueprint or design. The inclusion of examining "the wickedness of folly, even of madness" demonstrates his methodical approach to understanding the entire spectrum of human behavior, from the profound wisdom he aspired to, to the most destructive and irrational forms of human conduct. This reflects the typical Ecclesiastical style of setting antitheses against one another to arrive at a complete perspective. Ultimately, this intense, self-imposed quest, as Ecclesiastes frequently points out, finds its limitations "under the sun," highlighting that humanity's inherent capacity for wisdom is finite and only glimpses true ultimate answers when God sovereignly reveals them or provides wisdom as a gift. His search highlights the earnest human desire for understanding while anticipating the New Testament revelation that all true wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.