Ecclesiastes 9:13-12:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (Eccl. 9:11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (Eccl. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun ,.... Or, "this also I have seen under the sun, even wisdom" F8 גם זה ראיתי חכמה תחת השמש "Hoc etiam vidi sub sole, nempe sapientiam", Tigurine version; "etiam hoc vidi, sapientiam sub sole", Cocceius; "etiam hoc vidi, videlicet, sapientiam sub sole", Gejerus. : besides those things he had, just now observed, he took notice that there was such a thing as wisdom among men; though success did not always attend the wise, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun ; better, as the Septuagint, This also I saw to be wisdom under the sun . The experience which follows he recognized as an instance of worldly wisdom. To what special event he alludes is quite unknown. Probably the circumstance was familiar to his contemporaries. It is not to be considered as an allegory, though of course it is capable of spiritual application. The event in Bible history most like it is the preservation of Abel-Beth-maachah by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Section 9. That wisdom, even when it does good service, is not always rewarded, is shown by an example. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:13

Or, Also this have I seen - wisdom under the sun, and great it seemed to me.From this verse to the end of Ecclesiastes 10:0, the writer inculcates, in a series of proverbs, wisdom in contrast to folly, as the best remedy in the present life to the evil of vanity. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Ecclesiastes 9:13-16. This wisdom have I seen I have observed this among many other instances and effects of wisdom. Which he adds for the commendation of wisdom, notwithstanding its insufficiency for man’s safety and happiness without God’s blessing. And it seemed great unto me I judged it very praiseworthy, though others despised it, as it follows. There was a little city, &c. It is doubtful whether Solomon be here relating a certain fact which had occurred in some neighbouring... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20)A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. Riches, status and a show of power are the things people admire. If a person lacks these, he is ignored or despised, even though his quiet words of wisdom may save a city from destruction (13-18).One foolish act can spoil a lot of good. Stupidity leads to wrongdoing and marks a person out as a fool in the eyes of everyone... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:13

THE POOR WISE MAN WHO DELIVERED A CITY"I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. And there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man."This incident was evidently included in the book here as another example of the `vanity' which the author found... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:13

13. Rather, "I have seen wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which is described in what follows [MAURER]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Clearly, in this illustration, wisdom is better than strength, but even so it does not guarantee a reward. People generally do not value wisdom as highly as wealth, even though wisdom is really worth more. read more

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