Ecclesiastes 2:12

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.12", "source": "וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי אֲנִי֙ לִרְא֣וֹת חָכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י ׀ מֶ֣ה הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃", "text": "And *pānîtî* I to *lirʾôt* *ḥokmāh* and *hôlēlôt* and *siklût* because what the-*ʾādām* *sheyyābôʾ* after the-*melek* *ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār* *ʿāśûhû*.", "grammar": { "*pānîtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I turned/faced", "*lirʾôt*": "preposition + infinitive construct - to see", "*ḥokmāh*": "feminine singular noun - wisdom", "*hôlēlôt*": "feminine plural noun - madness", "*siklût*": "feminine singular noun - folly", "*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the man", "*sheyyābôʾ*": "relative particle + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - who will come", "*melek*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the king", "*ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār*": "direct object marker + relative particle + adverb - that which already", "*ʿāśûhû*": "perfect, 3rd plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - they did it/him" }, "variants": { "*pānîtî*": "I turned/applied myself/considered", "*lirʾôt*": "to see/observe/consider", "*ḥokmāh*": "wisdom/skill/intelligence", "*hôlēlôt*": "madness/folly/senselessness", "*siklût*": "folly/foolishness/stupidity", "*meh hāʾādām sheyyābôʾ*": "what can the man who comes/follows do", "*ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār ʿāśûhû*": "that which has already been done" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי אֲנִי֙ לִרְא֣וֹת חָכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י ׀ מֶ֣ה הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃

Transliteration

And pānîtî I to lirʾôt ḥokmāh and hôlēlôt and siklût because what the-ʾādām sheyyābôʾ after the-melek ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār ʿāśûhû.

Grammar Details

• *pānîtî*: perfect, 1st singular - I turned/faced
• *lirʾôt*: preposition + infinitive construct - to see
• *ḥokmāh*: feminine singular noun - wisdom
• *hôlēlôt*: feminine plural noun - madness
• *siklût*: feminine singular noun - folly
• *ʾādām*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the man
• *sheyyābôʾ*: relative particle + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - who will come
• *melek*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the king
• *ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār*: direct object marker + relative particle + adverb - that which already
• *ʿāśûhû*: perfect, 3rd plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - they did it/him

Word Meanings

• *pānîtî*: I turned/applied myself/considered
• *lirʾôt*: to see/observe/consider
• *ḥokmāh*: wisdom/skill/intelligence
• *hôlēlôt*: madness/folly/senselessness
• *siklût*: folly/foolishness/stupidity
• *meh hāʾādām sheyyābôʾ*: what can the man who comes/follows do
• *ʾēt ʾăsher-kĕbār ʿāśûhû*: that which has already been done

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And I turned{H6437} myself to behold{H7200} wisdom,{H2451} and madness,{H1947} and folly:{H5531} for what [can] the man{H120} [do] that cometh{H935} after{H310} the king?{H4428} [even] that which hath been done{H6213} long ago.{H3528}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And I turned{H6437}{(H8804)} myself to behold{H7200}{(H8800)} wisdom{H2451}, and madness{H1947}, and folly{H5531}: for what can the man{H120} do that cometh{H935}{(H8799)} after{H310} the king{H4428}? even that which hath been already{H3528} done{H6213}{(H8804)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then turned I me to considre wy?dome, erroure and foolishnesse (for what is he amonge men, that might be compared to me ye kynge in soch workes?)

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And I turned to beholde wisedome, and madnes and follie: (for who is the man that will come after the King in things, which men nowe haue done?)

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then turned I me to consider wisdome, errour, and foolishnesse (for what is he among men that myght be compared to me the kyng in such workes?)

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what `is' the man who cometh after the king? that which `is' already -- they have done it!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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 done long ago.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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 done long ago.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.

• World English Bible (2000)

  I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 1:17 : 17 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.1.17", "source": "וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֔ה וְדַ֥עַת הוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת יָדַ֕עְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֥ה ה֖וּא רַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃", "text": "*Wāʾettənāh* *libbî* *lādaʿat* *ḥokmāh* *wədaʿat* *hôlêlôt* *wəśiklût* *yādaʿtî* *šeggam*-*zeh* *hûʾ* *raʿyôn* *rûaḥ*", "grammar": { "*Wāʾettənāh*": "conjunction + verb, qal imperfect consecutive 1st common singular - and I gave/applied", "*libbî*": "noun, masculine singular + 1st common singular suffix - my heart", "*lādaʿat*": "preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct - to know", "*ḥokmāh*": "noun, feminine singular - wisdom", "*wədaʿat*": "conjunction + verb, qal infinitive construct - and to know", "*hôlêlôt*": "noun, feminine singular - madness/folly", "*wəśiklût*": "conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and foolishness", "*yādaʿtî*": "verb, qal perfect 1st common singular - I knew/realized", "*šeggam*": "relative pronoun + conjunction - that also", "*zeh*": "demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular - this", "*hûʾ*": "personal pronoun 3rd masculine singular - it (is)", "*raʿyôn*": "noun, masculine singular construct - striving after/pursuit of", "*rûaḥ*": "noun, feminine singular - wind/spirit" }, "variants": { "*hôlêlôt*": "madness/folly/senselessness", "*śiklût*": "foolishness/silliness/stupidity", "*raʿyôn*": "striving/grasping/pursuit/desire" } }
• Eccl 7:25 : 25 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.7.25", "source": "סַבּוֹתִי אֲנִי וְלִבִּי לָדַעַת וְלָתוּר וּבַקֵּשׁ חָכְמָה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְלָדַעַת רֶשַׁע כֶּסֶל וְהַסִּכְלוּת הוֹלֵלוֹת", "text": "*Sabbôṯî* I and-*libbî* *lāḏaʿaṯ* and-*lāṯûr* and-*ḇaqqēš* *ḥoḵmāh* and-*ḥešbôn* and-*lāḏaʿaṯ* *rešaʿ* *kesel* and-the-*sikḵəlûṯ* *hôlēlôṯ*", "grammar": { "*Sabbôṯî*": "Qal perfect 1st common singular - I turned", "*libbî*": "noun, masculine singular with 1st common singular suffix - my heart", "*lāḏaʿaṯ*": "Qal infinitive construct with preposition - to know", "*lāṯûr*": "Qal infinitive construct with preposition - to explore", "*ḇaqqēš*": "Piel infinitive construct - to seek", "*ḥoḵmāh*": "noun, feminine singular - wisdom", "*ḥešbôn*": "noun, masculine singular - account/reason", "*rešaʿ*": "noun, masculine singular - wickedness", "*kesel*": "noun, masculine singular - folly", "*sikḵəlûṯ*": "noun, feminine singular with definite article - the foolishness", "*hôlēlôṯ*": "noun, feminine plural - madness" }, "variants": { "*Sabbôṯî*": "I turned/I applied myself/I explored", "*lāḏaʿaṯ*": "to know/to understand/to comprehend", "*lāṯûr*": "to explore/to search out/to investigate", "*ḇaqqēš*": "to seek/to search for/to pursue", "*ḥoḵmāh*": "wisdom/understanding/insight", "*ḥešbôn*": "account/reason/calculation/conclusion", "*rešaʿ*": "wickedness/evil/iniquity", "*kesel*": "folly/stupidity", "*sikḵəlûṯ*": "foolishness/folly", "*hôlēlôṯ*": "madness/senselessness" } }
• Eccl 1:9-9 : 9 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.1.9", "source": "מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ ה֣וּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֔ה וּמַה־שֶׁנַּֽעֲשָׂ֔ה ה֖וּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין כָּל־חָדָ֖שׁ תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃", "text": "*Mah*-*šehāyāh* *hûʾ* *šeyyihyeh* *ûmah*-*šennaʿăśāh* *hûʾ* *šeyyêʿāśeh* *wəʾên* *kol*-*ḥādāš* *taḥat* *haššāmeš*", "grammar": { "*Mah*": "interrogative pronoun - what", "*šehāyāh*": "relative pronoun + verb, qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - that was", "*hûʾ*": "personal pronoun 3rd masculine singular - it/that (is)", "*šeyyihyeh*": "relative pronoun + verb, qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - that will be", "*ûmah*": "conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and what", "*šennaʿăśāh*": "relative pronoun + verb, niphal perfect 3rd masculine singular - that was done", "*šeyyêʿāśeh*": "relative pronoun + verb, niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - that will be done", "*wəʾên*": "conjunction + particle of negation - and there is not", "*kol*": "noun, masculine singular construct - all/any", "*ḥādāš*": "adjective, masculine singular - new", "*taḥat*": "preposition - under", "*haššāmeš*": "article + noun, feminine singular - the sun" }, "variants": { "*hāyāh*": "was/happened/occurred/existed", "*naʿăśāh*": "was done/was made/was performed", "*ḥādāš*": "new/fresh/novel/unprecedented" } } 10 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.1.10", "source": "יֵ֥שׁ דָּבָ֛ר שֶׁיֹּאמַ֥ר רְאֵה־זֶ֖ה חָדָ֣שׁ ה֑וּא כְּבָר֙ הָיָ֣ה לְעֹֽלָמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה מִלְּפָנֵֽנוּ׃", "text": "*Yêš* *dābār* *šeyyōʾmar* *rəʾêh*-*zeh* *ḥādāš* *hûʾ* *kəbār* *hāyāh* *ləʿōlāmîm* *ʾăšer* *hāyāh* *millə̄pānênû*", "grammar": { "*Yêš*": "existential particle - there is", "*dābār*": "noun, masculine singular - thing/word/matter", "*šeyyōʾmar*": "relative pronoun + verb, qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - that one might say", "*rəʾêh*": "verb, qal imperative masculine singular - see/look", "*zeh*": "demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular - this", "*ḥādāš*": "adjective, masculine singular - new", "*hûʾ*": "personal pronoun 3rd masculine singular - it (is)", "*kəbār*": "adverb - already", "*hāyāh*": "verb, qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - it was", "*ləʿōlāmîm*": "preposition + noun, masculine plural - for ages/in ancient times", "*ʾăšer*": "relative pronoun - which", "*millə̄pānênû*": "preposition + preposition + 1st common plural suffix - from before us" }, "variants": { "*dābār*": "word/thing/matter/affair", "*ʿōlāmîm*": "ages/ancient times/eternity/antiquity", "*kəbār*": "already/long ago/previously" } }