The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:12 Explained

Ecclesiastes 7:12

KJV: For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

YLT: For wisdom is a defense, money is a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom is, She reviveth her possessors.

Darby: For wisdom is a defence as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

ASV: For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For wisdom  [is] a defence,  [and] money  [is] a defence:  but the excellency  of knowledge  [is, that] wisdom  giveth life  to them that have  it. 

What does Ecclesiastes 7:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 7

1  remedies against vanity are, a good name
2  mortification
7  patience
11  wisdom
23  The difficulty of wisdom

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 7:12 mean?

For [is] a defense wisdom [as] money but the excellence of knowledge [is] [that] wisdom gives life to those who have it
כִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה הַכָּ֑סֶף וְיִתְר֣וֹן דַּ֔עַת הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה תְּחַיֶּ֥ה בְעָלֶֽיהָ

בְּצֵ֥ל  [is]  a  defense 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֵל  
Sense: shadow, shade.
הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה  wisdom 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
הַכָּ֑סֶף  [as]  money 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
וְיִתְר֣וֹן  but  the  excellence 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יִתְרֹון  
Sense: advantage, profit, excellency.
דַּ֔עַת  of  knowledge  [is] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה  [that]  wisdom 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
תְּחַיֶּ֥ה  gives  life 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
בְעָלֶֽיהָ  to  those  who  have  it 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּעַל 
Sense: owner, husband, lord.