Ecclesiastes 7:27
Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse is a profound understatement of Solomon's grueling, exhaustive search. He’s not just casually observing; he's meticulously "counting one by one," painstakingly weighing countless experiences and individuals to understand life's deepest workings, only to find something astonishingly unexpected.
After a long, deep dive into life's mysteries and human nature, the Preacher is sharing the difficult conclusions he's reached. He's meticulously examined things, trying to piece together a grand scheme, but he's about to reveal that his search for consistent virtue, particularly among women, has yielded a startlingly bleak result.
Solomon, the 'Preacher,' wasn't just casually observing life. He was on a mission, meticulously examining everything he encountered. What does this intense scrutiny reveal?
The phrase "counting one by one" (or similar variations in translation) paints a picture of meticulous investigation. The Preacher wasn't looking for generalities; he was carefully weighing individual instances, adding them up to find a definitive "account" or "reason." This wasn't a quick glance but a deep, painstaking analysis of the human condition. He was looking for a reliable sum total, a clear outcome from all his experiences and observations. This intense, almost exhaustive, method highlights the seriousness of his quest for truth and wisdom in a complex world.
The title 'Preacher' (Koheleth) takes on a new weight here. It's not just an office, but a reflection of profound personal experience and even repentance. What does this self-designation reveal about his findings?
The Preacher's use of his own title, "saith the preacher," is significant. Commentators note that the Hebrew word used here can be feminine, even though the title is typically treated as masculine. This grammatical nuance, or even a potential textual variant, adds layers to the interpretation. More importantly, it's presented as a declaration of the result of his vast, personal experience – one that led him to deep regret and a warning to others. His findings, revealed in the subsequent verse, stem from his own costly mistakes, particularly his entanglement with "strange women." He is speaking not just as an observer, but as a penitent, sharing a hard-won, painful truth derived from his life's study.
Understand the original words
Qoheleth · Hebrew Noun/Title
A title (Qoheleth) referring to one who gathers or addresses an assembly; implies a teacher of wisdom who examines the human condition under the sun.
This passage describes the immense value of a virtuous woman, directly contrasting with the preacher's difficulty in finding one, highlighting the rarity of such character.
Jeremiah 5:1Similar to the preacher's exhaustive search ('counting one by one'), Jeremiah is sent to scour Jerusalem for even one person who acts justly and seeks truth, revealing a widespread moral decay.
1 Kings 11:3The context of Solomon's own thousand wives and concubines is hinted at here, showing the immense scale of his personal experience which likely fueled his reflections on finding true virtue.
Luke 18:8Jesus' parable about the persistent widow seeking justice, and his rhetorical question about whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth, echo the preacher's despairing search for integrity amidst human failing.
henryEcclesiastes 7:23-29: "All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me."
7:23-29 Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godly sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He now discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he had been guilty, the loving many strange women,
pulpitEcclesiastes 7:27: "Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:"
Verse 27. - Behold, this have I found. The result of his search, thus forcibly introduced, follows in ver. 28. He has carefully examined the character and conduct of both sexes, and he is constrained to make the unsatisfactory remark which he there puts forth. Saith the preacher. Koheleth is here treated as a feminine noun, being joined with the feminine form of the verb, though els…
This verse is a profound understatement of Solomon's grueling, exhaustive search. He’s not just casually observing; he's meticulously "counting one by one," painstakingly weighing countless experiences and individuals to understand life's deepest workings, only to find something astonishingly unexpected.
After a long, deep dive into life's mysteries and human nature, the Preacher is sharing the difficult conclusions he's reached. He's meticulously examined things, trying to piece together a grand scheme, but he's about to reveal that his search for consistent virtue, particularly among women, has yielded a startlingly bleak result.
After a long, deep dive into life's mysteries and human nature, the Preacher is sharing the difficult conclusions he's reached. He's meticulously examined things, trying to piece together a grand scheme, but he's about to reveal that his search for consistent virtue, particularly among women, has yielded a startlingly bleak result.
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"Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things—" — This verse is a profound understatement of Solomon's grueling, exhaustive search. He’s not just casually observing; he's meticulously "counting one by one," painstakingly weighing countless experienc…
