The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:24 Explained

Ecclesiastes 7:24

KJV: That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

YLT: Far off is that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?

Darby: Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

ASV: That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That which is far off,  and exceeding deep,  who can find it out? 

What does Ecclesiastes 7:24 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 7:24 mean?

Far off [As for] what is and exceedingly deep who can find it out
רָח֖וֹק מַה־ שֶּׁהָיָ֑ה וְעָמֹ֥ק ׀ עָמֹ֖ק מִ֥י ؟ יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ

רָח֖וֹק  Far  off 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
מַה־  [As  for]  what 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
וְעָמֹ֥ק ׀  and  exceedingly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָמֹק  
Sense: deep, mysterious, depths.
עָמֹ֖ק  deep 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָמֹק  
Sense: deep, mysterious, depths.
؟ יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ  can  find  it  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.