Ecclesiastes 2:12
Old Testament • 13 words with Strong's data
"And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done."
Word-by-Word Analysis
הָפַךְ
hâphak
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
בָּשָׂר
bâsâr
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman
רָאָה
râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
נְבָלָה
nᵉbâlâh
foolishness, i.e. (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment
אִישׁ
ʼîysh
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בּוֹא
bôwʼ
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אַחַר
ʼachar
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
כְּבָר
kᵉbâr
properly, extent of time, i.e. a great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto
עָשָׂה
ʻâsâh
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Key Terms in This Verse
כְּבָר kᵉbâr
properly, extent of time, i.e. a great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto
Study H3528 →נְבָלָה nᵉbâlâh
foolishness, i.e. (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment
Study H5039 →בָּשָׂר bâsâr
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman
Study H1320 →הָפַךְ hâphak
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
Study H2015 →אַחַר ʼachar
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
Study H310 →רָאָה râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Study H7200 →Cross References
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
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