CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 7:27 "Behold," says the Teacher, "I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/21_Ecc_07_27.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 7:27 - The Limits of Human Wisdom" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Behold, says the Teacher, I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/">Ecclesiastes</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 27</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 7:26">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 7:27 <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 7:28">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Look,&#8221 says the Teacher, &#8220this is what I have discovered: &#8220Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, <i>counting</i> one by one, to find out the account:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “<i>Adding</i> one thing to the other to find out the reason,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “<i>by adding</i> one thing to another to find an explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Behold, I have discovered this,&#8221 says the Preacher, &#8220adding one thing to another to find an explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “<i>adding</i> one thing to another to find an explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“See, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “<i>adding</i> one thing to another to find an explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “while <i>adding</i> one thing to another to find an explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Look,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look,&#8221 says the Teacher, &#8220I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />With all my wisdom I have tried to find out how everything fits together, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher; laying one thing to another, to find out the account:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The spokesman said, "This is what I've found: I added one thing to another in order to find a reason for things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Yes, said the Philosopher, I found this out little by little while I was looking for answers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Look at this," says the Teacher. "Linking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Behold,? says the Teacher, ?I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />See, this I found, said the preacher: one to one to find understanding.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 7:28>Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />See, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one to one to find the sum.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have found this, says the Preacher, weighing one thing against another to find out the purposes,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />See this that I have found, says the Preacher, one by one, to find reasons<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/7.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, <i>seeking</i> by one at a time to find out the account,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=1386" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">The Limits of Human Wisdom</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared. <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rə·’êh (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">“Behold,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mə·rāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">says</a> <a href="/hebrew/6953.htm" title="6953: qō·he·leṯ (N-ms) -- Feminine of active participle from qahal; a assembler: abstractly, preaching.">the Teacher,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: mā·ṣā·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To attain to, find. ">“I have discovered</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’a·ḥaṯ (Number-fs) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">by adding one</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: lə·’a·ḥaṯ (Prep-l:: Number-fs) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">thing to another</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: lim·ṣō (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To attain to, find. ">to find</a> <a href="/hebrew/2808.htm" title="2808: ḥeš·bō·wn (N-ms) -- A reckoning, account. From chashab; properly, contrivance; by implication, intelligence.">an explanation.</a> </span><span class="reftext">28</span>While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-25.htm">Proverbs 7:25-27</a></span><br />Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. / For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. / Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-3.htm">Proverbs 5:3-5</a></span><br />Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. / Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/2-16.htm">Proverbs 2:16-19</a></span><br />It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words / who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. / For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-24.htm">Proverbs 6:24-26</a></span><br />to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. / Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. / For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/9-13.htm">Proverbs 9:13-18</a></span><br />The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. / She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, / calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-4</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm">Nehemiah 13:26</a></span><br />Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-12.htm">Genesis 3:12-13</a></span><br />And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” / Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/16-4.htm">Judges 16:4-21</a></span><br />Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. / The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” / So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/2-14.htm">1 Timothy 2:14</a></span><br />And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-28.htm">1 Corinthians 7:28</a></span><br />But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-18.htm">1 Corinthians 6:18</a></span><br />Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-3.htm">2 Corinthians 11:3</a></span><br />I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-20.htm">Revelation 2:20-23</a></span><br />But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. / Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. / Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-28.htm">Matthew 5:28</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Behold, this have I found, said the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:</p><p class="hdg">saith</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:1,2</a></b></br> The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:8-10</a></b></br> Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all <i>is</i> vanity… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:25</a></b></br> I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason <i>of things</i>, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness <i>and</i> madness:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/3-15.htm">Account</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-18.htm">Adding</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-15.htm">Counting</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-24.htm">Discover</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm">Discovered</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Explanation</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm">Find</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-10.htm">Found</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-12.htm">Koheleth</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-17.htm">Laying</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-12.htm">Preacher</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Scheme</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Searching</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Sum</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-12.htm">Teacher</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-24.htm">True.</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/8-2.htm">Account</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-14.htm">Adding</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-18.htm">Counting</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-17.htm">Discover</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-8.htm">Discovered</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-1.htm">Explanation</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm">Find</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm">Found</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">Koheleth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-11.htm">Laying</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">Preacher</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-1.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/ezekiel/38-10.htm">Scheme</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm">Searching</a> <a href="/ezekiel/28-12.htm">Sum</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm">Teacher</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-10.htm">True.</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-1.htm">remedies against vanity are, a good name</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-2.htm">mortification</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-7.htm">patience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-11.htm">wisdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-23.htm">The difficulty of wisdom</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>“Behold,” says the Teacher,</b><br>The term "Behold" is often used in Scripture to draw attention to something significant or to introduce a revelation. The "Teacher" refers to the author of Ecclesiastes, traditionally understood to be Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. Solomon is known for his wisdom, which he received from God (<a href="/1_kings/3-12.htm">1 Kings 3:12</a>). This introduction sets the stage for a profound insight or discovery that the Teacher is about to share.<p><b>“I have discovered this by adding one thing to another</b><br>The process of "adding one thing to another" suggests a methodical and logical approach to understanding. This reflects the wisdom literature's emphasis on observation and reflection. In the context of Ecclesiastes, it indicates a pursuit of knowledge and understanding through careful consideration and analysis of life's experiences. This method is akin to the scientific approach of gathering data and drawing conclusions, which was revolutionary for its time.<p><b>to find an explanation.</b><br>The quest "to find an explanation" highlights the Teacher's desire to understand the complexities of life and human existence. This pursuit of meaning is a central theme in Ecclesiastes, where the Teacher often grapples with the apparent futility and paradoxes of life. The search for explanation is not merely intellectual but deeply existential, reflecting humanity's innate desire to comprehend the divine order and purpose. This mirrors the broader biblical narrative, where understanding and wisdom are seen as gifts from God (<a href="/proverbs/2-6.htm">Proverbs 2:6</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_teacher.htm">The Teacher (Qoheleth)</a></b><br>Traditionally understood to be Solomon, the Teacher is the central figure in Ecclesiastes, known for his wisdom and exploration of life's meaning.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where Solomon reigned and where much of his wisdom literature, including Ecclesiastes, is thought to have been composed.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_search_for_wisdom.htm">The Search for Wisdom</a></b><br>The ongoing quest of the Teacher to understand the complexities of life and human behavior.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_pursuit_of_understanding.htm">The Pursuit of Understanding</a></b><br>The Teacher's method of "adding one thing to another" highlights the importance of diligent study and reflection in the pursuit of wisdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_limitations_of_human_wisdom.htm">The Limitations of Human Wisdom</a></b><br>Despite his efforts, the Teacher acknowledges the limitations of human understanding, reminding us to rely on God's wisdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_reflection.htm">The Value of Reflection</a></b><br>The Teacher's approach encourages us to take time for introspection and to seek deeper understanding in our own lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_experience.htm">The Role of Experience</a></b><br>The Teacher's discoveries are based on personal experience, emphasizing the value of learning from our own life experiences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_context.htm">The Importance of Context</a></b><br>Understanding the broader context of Ecclesiastes helps us appreciate the Teacher's insights and apply them to our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_qoheleth_in_ecclesiastes.htm">Who is Qoheleth in the Book of Ecclesiastes?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_books'_order.htm">What is the order of the Bible's books?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_jesus_and_his_divine_purpose.htm">Who is Jesus and what is his divine purpose?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'called_by_his_purpose'_mean.htm">How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Behold, this have I found</span>. 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. <span class="cmt_word">Saith the preacher.</span> <span class="accented">Koheleth is</span> here treated as a feminine noun, being joined with the feminine form of the verb, though elsewhere it is grammatically regarded as masculine (see on Ecclesiastes 1:1). Many have thought that, after speaking so disparagingly of woman, it would be singularly inappropriate to introduce the official preacher as a female; they have therefore adopted a slight alteration in the text, viz. <span class="hebrew">אָמַר חַקֹּחֶלֶת</span> instead of <span class="hebrew">אָמְרָה קֹהֶלֶת</span>, which is simply the transference of <span class="accented">he</span> from the end of one word to the beginning of the next, thus adding the article, as in <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:8</a>, and making the term accord with the Syriac and Arabic, and the Septuagint, <span class="greek">εϊπεν ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστής</span>. The writer here introduces his own designation in order to call special attention to what is coming. Counting <span class="cmt_word">one by one.</span> The phrase is elliptical, and signifies, adding one thing to another, or weighing one thing after another, putting together various facts or marks. <span class="cmt_word">To find out the account</span>; to arrive at the reckoning, the desired result. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“Behold,”</span><br /><span class="heb">רְאֵה֙</span> <span class="translit">(rə·’êh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">says</span><br /><span class="heb">אָמְרָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mə·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Teacher,</span><br /><span class="heb">קֹהֶ֑לֶת</span> <span class="translit">(qō·he·leṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6953.htm">Strong's 6953: </a> </span><span class="str2">Preacher -- 'a collector (of sentences)', 'a preacher', a son of David</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“I have discovered</span><br /><span class="heb">מָצָ֔אתִי</span> <span class="translit">(mā·ṣā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by adding one</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">thing to another</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאַחַ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’a·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to find</span><br /><span class="heb">לִמְצֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lim·ṣō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an explanation.</span><br /><span class="heb">חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥeš·bō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2808.htm">Strong's 2808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Contrivance, intelligence</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:27 Behold this have I found says (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 7:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 7:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-28.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 7:28"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 7:28" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>