Ecclesiastes 2:13

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

Transliteration

And rāʾîtî I sheyyēsh yitrôn to ḥokmāh from-the-siklût as yitrôn the-ʾôr from-the-ḥōshek.

Grammar Details

*rāʾîtî*: perfect, 1st singular - I saw
*sheyyēsh*: relative particle + existential particle - that there is
*yitrôn*: masculine singular noun - advantage
*ḥokmāh*: feminine singular noun with prefixed preposition - to wisdom
*siklût*: feminine singular noun with definite article and prefixed preposition - from the folly
*ʾôr*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the light
*ḥōshek*: masculine singular noun with definite article and prefixed preposition - from the darkness

Word Meanings

*rāʾîtî*: I saw/observed/perceived
*yitrôn*: advantage/profit/excellence/superiority
*ḥokmāh*: wisdom/skill/intelligence
*siklût*: folly/foolishness/stupidity
*kiyitrôn hāʾôr min-haḥōshek*: as/like the advantage/superiority of light over darkness

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Eccl 7:11-12 : 11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
Matt 6:23 : 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
Eph 5:8 : 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
Luke 11:34-35 : 34 The lamp of thy body is thine eye: {G3767} when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.
Eccl 7:19 : 19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
Eccl 9:16 : 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Eccl 9:18 : 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Eccl 11:7 : 7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
Mal 3:18-4:2 : 18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 1 For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
Ps 119:105 : 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.
Ps 119:130 : 130 The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.
Prov 4:5-7 : 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; 6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. 7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
Prov 4:18-19 : 18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
Prov 16:16 : 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 2:14-17
4 verses
86%
14The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 2:11-12
2 verses
81%
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12And 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 done long ago.
Eccl 1:16-18
3 verses
78%
16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Eccl 9:13
78%
13I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:
Eccl 7:25
76%
25I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
Eccl 1:13-14
2 verses
76%
13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 2:1-3
3 verses
75%
1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
Eccl 7:11
75%
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Eccl 8:16-17
2 verses
75%
16When I applied my 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),
17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Eccl 2:19-21
3 verses
74%
19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Eccl 2:9
74%
9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Eccl 6:8-9
2 verses
74%
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Prov 15:21
74%
21Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Eccl 4:3
73%
3yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Prov 17:24
73%
24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Eccl 9:16-17
2 verses
73%
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Prov 14:8
72%
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
Eccl 7:23
72%
23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Eccl 2:25-26
2 verses
72%
25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Prov 14:33
72%
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
Eccl 3:16
72%
16And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
Job 31:26
72%
26If I have beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness,
Eccl 11:7-8
2 verses
72%
7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
Prov 14:24
72%
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
Eccl 4:7
71%
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Prov 8:11-12
2 verses
71%
11For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
12I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion.
Eccl 10:2-3
2 verses
71%
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Eccl 4:13
71%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Eccl 7:4
71%
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Eccl 6:11
71%
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
Prov 16:16
71%
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
Job 29:3
71%
3When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;