The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 2:15 Explained

Ecclesiastes 2:15

KJV: Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

YLT: and I said in my heart, 'As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this is vanity:

Darby: And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

ASV: Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Discover Ecclesiastes 2:15

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ecclesiastes 2:15?

MEANING: What does Ecclesiastes 2:15 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 2:15 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ecclesiastes 2:15?

What is the context of Ecclesiastes 2:15?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.

What does Ecclesiastes 2:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 - 24-26, Vain Undertakings

At the beginning of his search for happiness Solomon erected a splendid home and planned all kinds of delights of an artistic and sensuous nature. There were gardens, pools of crystal water, fruit trees, meadows filled with cattle, regal splendor, musicians who poured into the palace their sweet melodies. He went further, adding to architecture and art his intellectual pursuits. But when he had gone to the furthest limit, he turned from it all, with the old gnawing at his heart-Vanity of vanities!

A few days before the death of the great Cardinal Mazarin, he was heard by a friend to utter something of the same sad refrain. "I was walking," says this friend, "in one of the apartments of the palace, when I recognized the approach of the Cardinal by the sound of his slippered feet, which he dragged one after the other as a man suffering from a mortal malady. I concealed myself behind the tapestry and heard him say, as he looked at one picture and rare treasure after another, "˜I must leave all these.'" Let us, in the light of these things, ponder again those words of Christ in Luke 12:33. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 2

¹ the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure
¹² Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event
¹⁸ The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom
²⁴ Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 2:15 mean?

So said I in my heart as it happens to the fool also me it happens to and why was wise then more and I said in my heart also this [is] vanity

וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי אֲנִ֜י בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם־ אֲנִ֣י יִקְרֵ֔נִי וְלָ֧מָּה ؟ חָכַ֛מְתִּי אָ֣ז יוֹתֵ֑ר וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י שֶׁגַּם־ זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל

וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי	So said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּלִבִּ֗י	in my heart
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: לֵב Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה	as it happens to
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: מִקְרֶה Sense: unforeseen meeting or event, accident, happening, chance, fortune.
הַכְּסִיל֙	the fool
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: כְּסִיל Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
גַּם־	also
Parse: Conjunction Root: גַּם Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֲנִ֣י	me
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular Root: אֲנִי Sense: I (first pers.
יִקְרֵ֔נִי	it happens to
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular Root: קָרָה Sense: to encounter, meet, befall, happen, come to meet.
וְלָ֧מָּה	and why
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative Root: לָמָּה Sense: what, how, of what kind.
؟ חָכַ֛מְתִּי	was wise
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: חָכַם Sense: to be wise.
יוֹתֵ֑ר	more
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: יׄותֵר Sense: superiority, advantage, excess adv.
וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי	and I said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular Root: דָּבַר Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְלִבִּ֔י	in my heart
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: לֵב Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
שֶׁגַּם־	also
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Conjunction Root: גַּם Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
זֶ֖ה	this
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular Root: זֶה Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
הָֽבֶל	[is] vanity
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: הֶבֶל Sense: vapour, breath.

What are the major concepts related to Ecclesiastes 2:15?

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