Ecclesiastes 8:16
Old Testament • 15 words with Strong's data
"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:)"
Word-by-Word Analysis
נָתַן
nâthan
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לֵב
lêb
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
יָדַע
yâdaʻ
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o...
רָאָה
râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
מְלָאכָה
mᵉlâʼkâh
properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
עָשָׂה
ʻâsâh
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶרֶץ
ʼerets
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לֹא
lôʼ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יוֹם
yôwm
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso...
לַיִל
layil
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
רָאָה
râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
עַיִן
ʻayin
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Key Terms in This Verse
נָתַן nâthan
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Study H5414 →מְלָאכָה mᵉlâʼkâh
properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
Study H4399 →רָאָה râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Study H7200 →לַיִל layil
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Study H3915 →עַיִן ʻayin
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Study H5869 →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 seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I ...
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
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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