Ecclesiastes 2:9

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

So I was great {H1431}, and increased {H3254} more than all that were before {H6440} me in Jerusalem {H3389}: also my wisdom {H2451} remained {H5975} with me.

So I grew great, surpassing all who preceded me in Yerushalayim; my wisdom, too, stayed with me.

So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

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

Context

Ecclesiastes 2:9 is part of the Preacher's (traditionally King Solomon's) deep and exhaustive personal experiment to find meaning and satisfaction in life apart from God. Having explored pleasure, wine, and grand building projects in the preceding verses, here he summarizes his unparalleled achievements in wealth, status, and material possessions. This verse highlights his success in these worldly endeavors, emphasizing that he surpassed all previous rulers in Jerusalem in terms of his greatness and accumulation.

Key Themes

  • Unparalleled Greatness and Wealth: The verse explicitly states the Preacher's immense success and prosperity. He was "great" and "increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem," signifying a level of material accumulation and prestige unmatched by any prior monarch in the city. This sets the stage for his subsequent evaluation of whether these achievements brought lasting fulfillment.
  • Retained Wisdom Amidst Indulgence: Crucially, the verse adds, "also my wisdom remained with me." This is a significant point. It suggests that his pursuit of worldly pleasures and possessions was not a result of foolishness or a loss of discernment, but rather a deliberate, albeit experimental, investigation. His wisdom, the Hebrew word for which is chokmah (חָכְמָה), implying practical skill, insight, and understanding, allowed him to critically observe and evaluate the outcomes of his vast undertakings. This preserved wisdom is what ultimately enables him to draw profound conclusions about the vanity of all earthly pursuits.
  • The Philosophical Experiment: This verse underscores the methodical nature of the Preacher's quest. He wasn't blindly indulging; he was conducting a grand philosophical experiment, using his immense resources and intellect to test the limits of human experience in search of ultimate purpose and joy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my wisdom remained with me" is critical. The Hebrew word for "wisdom" here is chokmah (חָכְמָה), which encompasses not just intellectual knowledge but also practical skill, prudence, and discernment. It suggests that even as he indulged in various worldly pursuits, his capacity for critical thought and understanding of consequences did not diminish. This sets him apart from someone who might simply fall into hedonism or greed; he maintained his intellectual integrity throughout the process, allowing him to objectively assess the results of his endeavors.

Related Scriptures

  • Solomon's extraordinary wisdom was a gift from God, as recorded in 1 Kings 3:12 and 1 Kings 4:30. This background helps explain how his wisdom "remained with him."
  • The Preacher's conclusion about the ultimate vanity of these pursuits is found throughout Ecclesiastes, particularly in Ecclesiastes 1:14 and the book's final summary in Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 2:9 offers a timeless lesson: even the greatest earthly success, wealth, and power, combined with profound wisdom, cannot ultimately satisfy the human soul. The Preacher, with unparalleled resources and intellect, found these pursuits to be ultimately empty. This verse encourages us to examine our own ambitions and priorities. While striving for excellence and using our gifts is commendable, placing our ultimate hope and satisfaction in material achievements or worldly recognition will inevitably lead to disillusionment. True fulfillment is found not in what we acquire, but in understanding our purpose in relation to God and living according to His will, as the book ultimately concludes.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:25

    And the LORD 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 10:23

    So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:22

    And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:23

    And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

  • 1 Kings 10:7

    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 exceedeth the fame which I heard.

  • 1 Kings 3:12

    Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
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