Ecclesiastes 2:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם אַ֥ף חָכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה לִּֽי׃

Transliteration

And gādaltî and hôsaptî more than all shehāyāh before me in Yĕrûshālāim; also ḥokmātî ʿāmĕdāh for me.

Grammar Details

*gādaltî*: perfect, 1st singular - I became great
*hôsaptî*: Hiphil perfect, 1st singular - I increased/added
*shehāyāh*: relative particle + perfect, 3rd masculine singular - who was
*Yĕrûshālāim*: proper noun - Jerusalem
*ḥokmātî*: feminine singular noun + 1st person suffix - my wisdom
*ʿāmĕdāh*: perfect, 3rd feminine singular - stood/remained

Word Meanings

*gādaltî*: I became great/increased/grew
*hôsaptî*: I added/increased/exceeded
*ḥokmātî ʿāmĕdāh lî*: my wisdom stood with me/remained with me/sustained me

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

1 Chr 29:25 : 25 And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
Eccl 1:16 : 16 I 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.
1 Kgs 10:23 : 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
2 Chr 1:1 : 1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 Chr 9:22-23 : 22 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
1 Kgs 3:12 : 12 behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
1 Kgs 10:7 : 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Eccl 1:16-18
3 verses
86%
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 2:3-8
6 verses
81%
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.
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
5I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;
6I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;
7I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;
8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Eccl 2:10-15
6 verses
79%
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.
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.
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
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.
Eccl 1:12-13
2 verses
78%
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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.
Eccl 9:13
77%
13I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:
2 Chr 9:22-23
2 verses
76%
22So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
2 Chr 1:12
75%
12wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.
1 Kgs 10:23-24
2 verses
75%
23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
Job 31:25
75%
25If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
1 Kgs 3:12-13
2 verses
74%
12behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days.
Eccl 2:19-20
2 verses
73%
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.
Eccl 2:1
73%
1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
Eccl 2:25
73%
25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
2 Chr 9:5-6
2 verses
72%
5And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.
6Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
Eccl 7:25
72%
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 7:23
72%
23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Ezek 28:4
72%
4by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures;
Prov 8:18-19
2 verses
71%
18Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.
1 Kgs 10:7
71%
7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
1 Kgs 4:30-31
2 verses
71%
30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations round about.
Eccl 7:19
70%
19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
2 Chr 9:3
70%
3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
Eccl 7:11
70%
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
2 Chr 2:9
70%
9even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
Prov 8:11-12
2 verses
70%
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.
Prov 9:11
70%
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
Prov 8:31
70%
31Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.
Prov 8:14
70%
14Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.
Eccl 9:16
70%
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.