Ecclesiastes 7:24

“That which is far off, etc.] Or, “far off [is] that which has been”f178. That which has been done by God already, in creation and providence, is out of the reach of men, is far from their understandings wholly to comprehend or account for; and likewise that which is past with men, what has been done in former ages, the history of past times, is very difficult to come at: or rather, according to Schmidt, and Rambachius after him, what was of old is now afar off or absent; the image of God in man which consisted of perfect wisdom, and was created at the same time with him, is now lost, and that is the reason why wisdom is far from him; and exceeding deep, who can find it out? the primitive…”

“That . . . far off . . . deep--True wisdom is so when sought independently of "fear of God" (Ecc 7:18; Deu 30:12-13; Job 11:7-8; Job 28:12-20, Job 28:28; Psa 64:6; Rom 10:6-7).”

“literally, Far off is that which hath been i. e., events as they have occurred in the order of Divine Providence), and deep, deep, who can find it out? return to 'Top of Page'”

“It - God's counsels and works, and the reasons of them. Ecclesiastes 7:25”

“Deu 30:11-14; Job 11:7, Job 11:8, Job 28:12-23, Job 28:28; Psa 36:6, Psa 139:6; Isa 55:8, Isa 55:9; Rom 11:33; Ti1 6:16 Ecclesiastes 7:25”

“"For that which is, is far off, and deep, - yes, deep; who can reach it?" Knobel, Hitz., Vaih., and Bullock translate: for what is remote and deep, deep, who can find it? i.e., investigate it; but mah-shehayah is everywhere an idea by itself, and means either id quod fuit, or id quod exstitit, Ecc 1:9; Ecc 3:15; Ecc 6:10; in the former sense it is the contrast of mah-shěihyěh, Ecc 8:7; Ecc 10:14, cf. Ecc 3:22; in the latter, it is the contrast of that which does not exist, because it has not come into existence. In this way it is also not to be translated: For it is far off what it (wisdom) is (Zckl.) \[= what wisdom is lies far off from human knowledge\], or: what it is (the essence of…”