Ecclesiastes 8:17
Old Testament • 26 words with Strong's data
"Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."
Word-by-Word Analysis
רָאָה
râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
מַעֲשֶׂה
maʻăseh
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
אֱלֹהִים
ʼĕlôhîym
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of...
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)
יָכֹל
yâkôl
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
מָצָא
mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
מַעֲשֶׂה
maʻăseh
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
עָשָׂה
ʻâsâh
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שֶׁמֶשׁ
shemesh
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
פָּנִים
pânîym
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi...
כִּי
kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
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)
עָמָל
ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
בָּקַשׁ
bâqash
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
עוֹד
ʻôwd
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
מָצָא
mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
ὑπερέκεινα
hyperékeina
above those parts, i.e. still farther
כִּי
kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
חָכָם
châkâm
wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
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)
חָשַׁב
châshab
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious...
יָדַע
yâdaʻ
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o...
עוֹד
ʻôwd
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
יָכֹל
yâkôl
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
מָצָא
mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Key Terms in This Verse
רָאָה râʼâh
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Study H7200 →חָשַׁב châshab
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, ...
Study H2803 →עָמָל ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
Study H5999 →מָצָא mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Study H4672 →מָצָא mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Study H4672 →מָצָא mâtsâʼ
properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Study H4672 →שֶׁמֶשׁ shemesh
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
Study H8121 →Cross References
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are ...
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
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