Ecclesiastes 8 16

Ecclesiastes 8:16 kjv

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

Ecclesiastes 8:16 nkjv

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

Ecclesiastes 8:16 niv

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth?people getting no sleep day or night?

Ecclesiastes 8:16 esv

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,

Ecclesiastes 8:16 nlt

In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people's burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.

Ecclesiastes 8 verses

Ecclesiastes 8 16 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 8:16 describes the intense, relentless effort of Qoheleth, the Preacher, in his quest to understand the complexities and mysteries of human existence and divine providence on earth. He dedicates himself fully, even foregoing rest, to grasp the "business" or vexing affairs that unfold "under the sun," highlighting the depth of his investigation and the overwhelming nature of the task.

Ecclesiastes 8 16 Context

Ecclesiastes 8 operates within the broader thematic framework of human limitation and the inscrutability of divine action "under the sun." Prior to verse 16, Qoheleth discusses the importance of obeying a king (vv. 2-8) and the injustice often found in life (vv. 9-14), where the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper, blurring traditional retributive theology. Verse 16 sets the stage for the following declaration in verse 17, which explicitly states that despite exhaustive human effort, humanity cannot fully comprehend "the work of God" that is done under the sun. It highlights the Preacher's extensive personal experience and dedication in grappling with these complex paradoxes before admitting defeat in complete understanding. This context reinforces the persistent challenge to human reason when confronting God's sovereign plan and the apparent disharmony in the world.

Ecclesiastes 8 16 Word analysis

• When I applied my heart:
  • Hebrew: Kî nātattî ’et-libbî (כִּי נָתַתִּי אֶת לִבִּי).
  • "Applied my heart" (nātan + lēb) is a common biblical idiom. "Lēb" (heart) represents the center of intellect, will, emotion, and purpose in Hebrew thought, not just affection.
  • Significance: Denotes extreme dedication, earnestness, and concentrated effort, emphasizing a deep intellectual and personal engagement. This was no casual inquiry but a total immersion.
• to know wisdom:
  • Hebrew: lād́a‘at ḥoḵmāh (לָדַעַת חָכְמָה).
  • "Know" (yāda‘): Not just superficial acquaintance, but profound understanding, practical skill, and intimate knowledge.
  • "Wisdom" (ḥoḵmāh): Encompasses discernment, skill in living, insight into reality, and sound judgment. Qoheleth sought both practical and theoretical wisdom to make sense of life.
  • Significance: His aim was not just information but profound understanding of life's intricate workings and principles.
• and to see:
  • Hebrew: ûlirrə’ōṯ (וְלִרְאוֹת).
  • "See" (ra'ah): Implies perception, observation, comprehension. It goes beyond mere visual perception to include mental grasp and recognition.
  • Significance: The active observation and processing of events were crucial to his investigation.
• the business:
  • Hebrew: hā’inyān (הָעִנְיָן).
  • Refers to "occupation," "task," "trouble," "burden," or "affair." In Ecclesiastes, ‘inyan often carries a negative connotation, indicating burdensome or grievous tasks.
  • Significance: Highlights the wearisome, complex, and often vexing nature of human affairs and God's dealings in the world, which Qoheleth meticulously examined.
• that is done on earth:
  • Hebrew: šennā‘aśāh taḥaṯ haššemeš (שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ).
  • "Done" (‘asah): Performed, accomplished, enacted.
  • "Under the sun" (taḥaṯ haššemeš): A hallmark phrase of Ecclesiastes, referring to the human realm, mortal existence, and life observed from a purely earthly perspective, often limited by natural observation and lacking full divine revelation.
  • Significance: Confines the scope of his inquiry to observable human experience, leading to the limits of that understanding without God's explicit revelation.
• even though one sleeps neither day nor night:
  • Hebrew: wəḡam ballaylāh bə‘ênāw šēnāh lō’ yir’eh (וְגַם בַּלַּיְלָה בְּעֵינָיו שֵׁנָה לֹא יִרְאֶה).
  • Literal: "and also at night in his eyes sleep he will not see."
  • Significance: An emphatic hyperbole, portraying the extent of his dedication. It's not necessarily literal chronic insomnia but a vivid metaphor for his ceaseless effort, intense preoccupation, and lack of true rest due to his consuming quest for understanding life's perplexing realities. It underscores the ultimate futility of human striving to fully grasp divine mysteries through mere intellectual toil.

Ecclesiastes 8 16 Bonus section

The sage’s relentless pursuit described here also implicitly addresses polemics against deterministic or overly simplistic retribution views popular in ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions. Qoheleth, through his tireless search, finds that wisdom and understanding of earthly 'business' do not always lead to clear answers or a straightforward explanation of why events unfold as they do (as seen in the suffering of the righteous). His almost obsessive investigation demonstrates that even the most dedicated human intellect cannot fully penetrate God's profound, complex, and often paradoxical administration of the world. This profound wrestling also stands as a testament to the honesty of the Preacher's inquiry, not content with superficial answers or conventional religious explanations that do not align with observable reality.

Ecclesiastes 8 16 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:16 presents Qoheleth as an exemplary seeker of wisdom, committing himself entirely to unraveling the enigmas of existence and divine activity "under the sun." His method is one of complete devotion and tireless application, going so far as to figuratively abandon rest. This intense commitment highlights the gravity and complexity of the "business" of life that he observes – the perceived injustices, the erratic outcomes, and the profound questions that arise from living in a fallen world. This verse acts as a bridge to Ecclesiastes 8:17, setting up the critical admission that even with such immense effort, humanity's quest for full comprehension of God's ways remains unfulfilled. It serves as a stark reminder of human cognitive limits in understanding the sovereign plan of God, demonstrating that true rest and ultimate understanding cannot be achieved through relentless intellectual striving alone.