When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth--though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night-- When I applied my mindThe phrase "applied my mind" suggests a deliberate and intentional effort to understand. In Hebrew, the word for "mind" is often associated with the heart (לֵב, lev), which in ancient Near Eastern thought was the center of intellect and emotion. This indicates a holistic pursuit of wisdom, engaging both intellect and emotion. The act of applying one's mind reflects a deep commitment to seeking truth, a theme prevalent throughout Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher (Qoheleth) seeks to understand life's complexities. to know wisdom
The Hebrew word for "wisdom" is חָכְמָה (chokmah), which encompasses not just knowledge but also the skillful application of knowledge in daily life. In the biblical context, wisdom is often seen as a divine gift, something that comes from God and leads to a righteous life. The pursuit of wisdom is a central theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible, including Proverbs and Job, and is seen as a noble and necessary endeavor for understanding God's creation and our place within it. and to observe the activity
The word "observe" implies careful watching and consideration. The Hebrew root רָאָה (ra'ah) means to see or perceive, suggesting an active engagement with the world. "Activity" refers to human endeavors and the busyness of life. Ecclesiastes often reflects on the futility and transient nature of human activities, urging readers to consider the deeper meaning and purpose behind them. that is done on the earth
This phrase grounds the search for wisdom in the reality of earthly life. The Hebrew word for "earth" is אֶרֶץ (eretz), which can mean land, ground, or the entire world. It emphasizes the scope of human activity and the Preacher's quest to understand it. The earth is the stage for human actions, and Ecclesiastes frequently contrasts earthly pursuits with eternal truths. though one’s eyes do not see sleep day or night
This vivid imagery highlights the relentless pursuit of understanding, even to the point of sleeplessness. The phrase "do not see sleep" suggests a tireless quest for knowledge, reflecting the Preacher's dedication. In the ancient world, sleep was often seen as a time of vulnerability and rest, yet the Preacher sacrifices this for the sake of wisdom. This relentless pursuit underscores the difficulty and complexity of truly understanding life's mysteries, a theme that resonates throughout Ecclesiastes. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom. He reflects on the pursuit of wisdom and the observation of human activity. 2. EarthRepresents the realm of human activity and the stage on which the events of life unfold. It is the place where Solomon observes the ceaseless activity of mankind. 3. WisdomA central theme in Ecclesiastes, wisdom is portrayed as a pursuit that can lead to understanding but also to the realization of life's complexities and limitations. Teaching Points The Limitations of Human WisdomWhile wisdom is valuable, it has its limits. Human understanding cannot fully grasp the complexities of life or the purposes of God. This calls for humility and reliance on divine wisdom. The Futility of Ceaseless ActivitySolomon observes that human activity is relentless, yet often without ultimate purpose. This challenges us to evaluate our pursuits and ensure they align with God's will. The Need for Rest and Trust in GodThe phrase "no sleep day or night" highlights the restlessness of human endeavors. In contrast, believers are called to find rest in God, trusting Him with the outcomes of their efforts. The Pursuit of Godly WisdomTrue wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom that aligns with God's character and purposes, rather than merely human understanding. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Solomon's pursuit of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 8:16 challenge our understanding of what it means to be wise? 2. In what ways do you see the "activity that is done on the earth" reflected in today's society, and how can we discern which activities are meaningful? 3. How can the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 provide a solution to the restlessness described in Ecclesiastes 8:16? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced the limitations of human wisdom. How did this experience shape your reliance on God? 5. How can we balance the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge with the need for rest and trust in God's sovereignty? Connections to Other Scriptures Proverbs 1:7This verse highlights the fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge, connecting to the pursuit of wisdom in Ecclesiastes. Psalm 127:2This verse speaks to the futility of anxious toil, which parallels the ceaseless activity observed by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8:16. Matthew 11:28-30Jesus invites those who are weary to find rest in Him, offering a contrast to the restless pursuit of wisdom and activity described in Ecclesiastes. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Applied, Business, Heart, Labor, Man's, Mind, Observe, One's, Seeing, Sees, Sleep, Spectator, Task, Though, WisdomDictionary of Bible Themes Ecclesiastes 8:16 5038 mind, the human
5057 rest, physical
8674 study Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 5441 philosophy
5940 searching
8366 wisdom, source of Library Misused Respite
'Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil'--ECCLES. viii. 11. When the Pharaoh of the Exodus saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Abject in his fear before Moses, he was ready to promise anything; insolent in his pride, he swallows down his promises as soon as fear is eased, his repentance and his retractation of it combined to add new weights about his neck. He was but a conspicuous example of …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureFive Fears
Now, you will notice that fear may be yoked into the service of God. True fear, not fearing, but believing, saves the soul; not doubt, but confidence, is the strength and the deliverance of the Christian. Still, fear, as being one of those powers which God hath given us, is not in itself sinful. Fear may be used for the most sinful purposes; at the same time it may be so ennobled by grace, and so used for the service of God, that it may become the very grandest part of man. In fact, Scripture has …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
We shall this morning want you, first of all, to walk with a living man; it is said of him that he did "come and go from the place of the holy:" next, I shall want you to attend his funeral, and then, in conclusion I shall ask you to assist in writing his epitaph--"and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this also is vanity." I. In the first place, HERE IS SOME GOOD COMPANY FOR YOU; some with whom you may walk to the house of God, for it is said of them, that they did come and …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858 Whether Christ Should have Been Circumcised?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ should not have been circumcised. For on the advent of the reality, the figure ceases. But circumcision was prescribed to Abraham as a sign of the covenant concerning his posterity, as may be seen from Gn. 17. Now this covenant was fulfilled in Christ's birth. Therefore circumcision should have ceased at once. Objection 2: Further, "every action of Christ is a lesson to us" [*Innoc. III, Serm. xxii de Temp.]; wherefore it is written (Jn. 3:15): "I have given …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether in Loving God we Ought to Observe any Mode?
Objection 1: It would seem that we ought to observe some mode in loving God. For the notion of good consists in mode, species and order, as Augustine states (De Nat. Boni iii, iv). Now the love of God is the best thing in man, according to Col. 3:14: "Above all . . . things, have charity." Therefore there ought to be a mode of the love of God. Objection 2: Further, Augustine says (De Morib. Eccl. viii): "Prithee, tell me which is the mode of love. For I fear lest I burn with the desire and love of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Literature.
i. editions of chrysostom's works. S. Joannis Chrysostomi, archiepiscopi Constantinopolitani, Opera omnia quæ exstant vel quæ ejus nomine circumferuntur, ad mss. codices Gallicos, Vaticanos, Anglicos, Germanicosque castigata, etc. Opera et studio D.Bernardi de Montfaucon, monachi ordinis S. Benedicti e congregatione S. Mauri, opem ferentibus aliis ex codem sodalitio, monachis. Greek and Latin, Paris, 1718-'38, in 13 vols., fol. This is the best edition, and the result of about twenty …
St. Chrysostom—On the Priesthood Concerning Jonathan, one of the Sicarii, that Stirred up a Sedition in Cyrene, and was a False Accuser [Of the Innocent].
1. And now did the madness of the Sicarii, like a disease, reach as far as the cities of Cyrene; for one Jonathan, a vile person, and by trade a weaver, came thither and prevailed with no small number of the poorer sort to give ear to him; he also led them into the desert, upon promising them that he would show them signs and apparitions. And as for the other Jews of Cyrene, he concealed his knavery from them, and put tricks upon them; but those of the greatest dignity among them informed Catullus, …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem A Few Sighs from Hell;
or, The Groans of the Damned Soul: or, An Exposition of those Words in the Sixteenth of Luke, Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE LAMENTABLE STATE OF THE DAMNED; THEIR CRIES, THEIR DESIRES IN THEIR DISTRESSES, WITH THE DETERMINATION OF GOD UPON THEM. A GOOD WARNING WORD TO SINNERS, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BETIMES, AND TO SEEK, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO AVOID, LEST THEY COME INTO THE SAME PLACE OF TORMENT. Also, a Brief Discourse touching the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Ecclesiastes
It is not surprising that the book of Ecclesiastes had a struggle to maintain its place in the canon, and it was probably only its reputed Solomonic authorship and the last two verses of the book that permanently secured its position at the synod of Jamnia in 90 A.D. The Jewish scholars of the first century A.D. were struck by the manner in which it contradicted itself: e.g., "I praised the dead more than the living," iv. 2, "A living dog is better than a dead lion," ix. 4; but they were still more …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ecclesiastes 8:16 NIVEcclesiastes 8:16 NLTEcclesiastes 8:16 ESVEcclesiastes 8:16 NASBEcclesiastes 8:16 KJV
Ecclesiastes 8:16 Commentaries
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