The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 8:16 Explained

Ecclesiastes 8:16

KJV: When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

YLT: When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that hath been done on the earth, (for there is also a spectator in whose eyes sleep is not by day and by night),

Darby: When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

ASV: When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When I applied  mine heart  to know  wisdom,  and to see  the business  that is done  upon the earth:  (for also [there is that] neither day  nor night  seeth  sleep  with his eyes:  ) 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 8

1  true wisdom is modest
2  Kings are to be respected
6  Divine providence is to be observed
12  It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity
16  The work of God is unsearchable

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 8:16 mean?

When I applied - my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth for even though day or night sleep with his eyes no one sees
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת־ לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֔ה וְלִרְאוֹת֙ הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה עַל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֣י גַ֤ם בַּיּוֹם֙ וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה שֵׁנָ֕ה בְּעֵינָ֖יו אֵינֶ֥נּוּ רֹאֶֽה

נָתַ֤תִּי  I  applied 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לִבִּי֙  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לָדַ֣עַת  to  know 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
חָכְמָ֔ה  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וְלִרְאוֹת֙  and  to  see 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן  the  business 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עִנְיָן  
Sense: occupation, task, job.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה  is  done 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
גַ֤ם  even  though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
בַּיּוֹם֙  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה  or  night 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
שֵׁנָ֕ה  sleep 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֵׁנָא 
Sense: sleep.
בְּעֵינָ֖יו  with  his  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ  no 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
רֹאֶֽה  one  sees 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.