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Ecclesiastes 1:17

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 1:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16I communed with mine own hear, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
← Ecclesiastes 1:16Ecclesiastes 1:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, etc.] Which is repeated, for the confirmation of it, from (<210113>Ecclesiastes 1:13), and that it might be taken notice of how assiduous and diligent he had been in acquiring it; a circumstance not to be overlooked; and to know madness and folly: that he might the better know wisdom, and learn the difference between the one and the other, since opposites illustrate each other; and that he might shun madness and folly, and the ways thereof, and expose the actions of mad and foolish men: so Platof44 says, ignorance is a disease, of which there are two kinds, madness and folly. The Targum, Septuagint, and all the Oriental versions, interpret the last word,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“wisdom . . . madness--that is, their effects, the works of human wisdom and folly respectively. "Madness," literally, "vaunting extravagance"; Ecc 2:12; Ecc 7:25, &c., support English Version rather than DATHE, "splendid matters." "Folly" is read by English Version with some manuscripts, instead of the present Hebrew text, "prudence." If Hebrew be retained, understand "prudence," falsely so called (Ti1 6:20), "craft" (Dan 8:25).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To know madness and folly - A knowledge of folly would help him to discern wisdom, and to exercise that chief function of practical wisdom - to avoid folly. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To know - That I might throughly understand the nature and difference of truth and error, of virtue and vice. Ecclesiastes 1:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I gave: Ecc 1:13, Ecc 2:3, Ecc 2:12, Ecc 7:23-25; Th1 5:21 I perceived: Ecc 2:10, Ecc 2:11 Ecclesiastes 1:18”
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Related study paths

Read Ecclesiastes 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification