Ecclesiastes 7:23

“All this have I proved by wisdom, etc.] Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men, (<210708>Ecclesiastes 7:8-22). This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right, and therefore recommended it to others; though he acknowledges that, with all his wisdom, he was from perfection; I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me; he determined, if possible, to attain to…”

“All this--resuming the "all" in Ecc 7:15; Ecc 7:15-22 is therefore the fruit of his dearly bought experience in the days of his "vanity." I will be wise--I tried to "be wise," independently of God. But true wisdom was then "far from him," in spite of his human wisdom, which he retained by God's gift. So "over wise" (Ecc 7:16).”

“I will be - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse. It - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:17. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Proved - I have found to be true, by the help of that singular wisdom which God had given me. I said - I determined that I would attain perfection of wisdom. But - I found myself greatly disappointed. Ecclesiastes 7:24”

“7:23-25 it didn’t work: The Teacher was not able to find the wisdom that he sought or the reason for things. Such reasons are hidden in the mind of God (3:11; 8:17).”

“I said: Gen 3:5; Kg1 3:11, Kg1 3:12, Kg1 11:1-8; Rom 1:22; Co1 1:20 Ecclesiastes 7:24”

“"All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought, Wise I will become; but it remained far from me." The ב in בּחכמה is, as at Ecc 1:13, that designating the organon, the means of knowledge. Thus he possessed wisdom up to a certain degree, and in part; but his purpose, comprehended in the one word אחכּמה, was to possess it fully and completely; i.e., not merely to be able to record observations and communicate advices, but to adjust the contradictions of life, to expound the mysteries of time and eternity, and generally to solve the most weighty and important questions which perplex men. But this wisdom was for him still in the remote distance. It is the wisdom after which Job, chap. 28, made…”