Ecclesiastes 2:16 KJV

Ecclesiastes 2:16

"For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever,.... The Targum interprets it, in the world to come; but even in this world the remembrance of a wise man, any more than of a fool, does not always last; a wise man may not only be caressed in life, but may be remembered after death for a while; the fame of him may continue for a little time, and his works and writings may be applauded; but by and by rises up another genius brighter than he, or at least is so thought, and outshines him; and then his fame is obscured, his

writings are neglected and despised, and he and his works buried in oblivion; and this is the common course of things. This shows that Solomon is speaking of natural wisdom, and of man's being wise with respect to that; and his remembrance on that account; otherwise such who are truly good and wise, their memory is blessed; they are had in everlasting remembrance, and shall never be forgotten in this world, nor in that to come, when the memory of the wicked shall rot; whose names are only written in the dust Jer 17:13 , and not in the Lamb's book of life; seeing that which now is, in the days to come shall all be forgotten: what now is in the esteem of men, and highly applauded by them; what is in the mouths of men, and in their minds and memories, before long, future time, after the death of a man, as the Targum, or in some time after, will be thought of no more, and be as if it never had been, or as if there never had been such men in the world. Many wise men have been in the world, whose names are now unknown, and some their names only are known, and their works are lost; and others whose works remain, yet in no esteem: this is to be understood in general, and for the most part; otherwise there may be some few exceptions to this general observation. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool; they are both liable to death; it is appointed for men, rinse or unwise, learned or unlearned, to die, and both do die; wisdom cannot secure a man from dying; and then wise and fools are reduced to the same condition and circumstances; all a man's learning, knowledge, and wisdom, cease when he dies, and he is just as another man is; in that day all his learned thoughts perish, and he is upon a level with the fool. Solomon, the wisest of men, died as others; a full proof of his own observation, and which his father made before him, Psa 49:10 . But this is not true of one that is spiritually wise, or wise unto salvation; the death of a righteous man is different from the death of a wicked man; both die, yet not alike, not in like manner; the good man dies in Christ, he dies in faith, has hope in his death, and rises again to eternal life. The Targum is, "and how shall the children of men say, that the end of the righteous is as the end of the wicked?''

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (17 words)

H3588 כִּי

Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:

for (semantic_range)
when (semantic_range)
when (semantic_range)

H0369 אַיִן

Definition:

23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr 23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr

Possible Meanings:

nought (semantic_range)
is not (semantic_range)

H2146 זִכְרוֹן

Definition:

11memorial, remembrance(compare LgBN 199, 200) — absoluteזִכָּרוֺןJoshua 4:7+;זִכָּרֹןExodus 28:12(twice in verse);Exodus 28:29; constructזִכְרוֺןEcclesiastes 1:112t.; suffixזִכְרוֺנֵךְIsaiah 57:8; pl 11memorial, remembrance(compare LgBN 199, 200) — absoluteזִכָּרוֺןJoshua 4:7+;זִכָּרֹןExodus 28:12(twice in verse);Exodus 28:29; constructזִכְרוֺןEcclesiastes 1:112t.; suffixזִכְרוֺנֵךְIsaiah 57:8; pl

H2450 חָכָם

Definition:

667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ 667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ

Possible Meanings:

wise (semantic_range)
skilful (semantic_range)
wise in the administration of affairs (semantic_range)
shrewd (semantic_range)
crafty (semantic_range)

H5973 עִם

Definition:

compare √ענד), without difference of meaning (עמיin PentateuchGenesis 31:31;Genesis 39:7,12,14;Exodus 33:12;Leviticus 26:21,23,27,40 [H]Numbers 22:19; Joshua-Kings 13 t.;Psalm 42:9;Psalm 86:17;Job 10: compare √ענד), without difference of meaning (עמיin PentateuchGenesis 31:31;Genesis 39:7,12,14;Exodus 33:12;Leviticus 26:21,23,27,40 [H]Numbers 22:19; Joshua-Kings 13 t.;Psalm 42:9;Psalm 86:17;Job 10:

H3684 כְּסִיל

Definition:

1144t.; pluralכְּסִילִיםPsalm 94:825t.; — ""בערPsalm 49:11;Psalm 92:7;Psalm 94:8, elsewhere only in Wisd Lt.; he hates knowledgeProverbs 1:22; delights not in understandingProverbs 18:2; it is his spo 1144t.; pluralכְּסִילִיםPsalm 94:825t.; — ""בערPsalm 49:11;Psalm 92:7;Psalm 94:8, elsewhere only in Wisd Lt.; he hates knowledgeProverbs 1:22; delights not in understandingProverbs 18:2; it is his spo

Possible Meanings:

Orion (semantic_range)

H5769 עוֹלָם

Definition:

12405t.;עֹלָםGenesis 3:2219t.;עֵילוֺם2Chronicles 33:7, read probablyעוֺלָם(for other explanations see note in KitHpt); suffixעֹלָמוֺEcclesiastes 12:5; pluralעוֺלָמִיםIsaiah 26:47t.,עֹלָמִיםPsalm 145:1 12405t.;עֹלָםGenesis 3:2219t.;עֵילוֺם2Chronicles 33:7, read probablyעוֺלָם(for other explanations see note in KitHpt); suffixעֹלָמוֺEcclesiastes 12:5; pluralעוֺלָמִיםIsaiah 26:47t.,עֹלָמִיםPsalm 145:1

Possible Meanings:

long duration (semantic_range)
antiquity (semantic_range)
futurity (semantic_range)

H3528 כְּבָר

Definition:

21; Hebrews 10:2); Mandeanכבארalready, NöM. p. 202. Der. uncertain, connectionwith √כברbeing dubious) —already,Ecclesiastes 1:10כְּבָרהָיָהit hathalreadybeen,Ecclesiastes 2:12,16;Ecclesiastes 3:15(twi 21; Hebrews 10:2); Mandeanכבארalready, NöM. p. 202. Der. uncertain, connectionwith √כברbeing dubious) —already,Ecclesiastes 1:10כְּבָרהָיָהit hathalreadybeen,Ecclesiastes 2:12,16;Ecclesiastes 3:15(twi

Possible Meanings:

to intertwine, net (semantic_range)
sift (semantic_range)

H3117 יוֹם

Definition:

5day(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיומָא,; Phoenicianים; MI5ימן, suffixימיGenesis 1:6;Genesis 1:9;Genesis 1:33, plural constructימיGenesis 1:8, suffix 3masculine singularימה; SI3ים; ZinjirliיוםDHMSendsch Glo 5day(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיומָא,; Phoenicianים; MI5ימן, suffixימיGenesis 1:6;Genesis 1:9;Genesis 1:33, plural constructימיGenesis 1:8, suffix 3masculine singularימה; SI3ים; ZinjirliיוםDHMSendsch Glo

H0935 בּוֹא

Definition:

13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti 13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti

Possible Meanings:

come in (semantic_range)
come (semantic_range)
go in (semantic_range)
go (semantic_range)
come in (semantic_range)

H3605 כֹּל

Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H7911 שָׁכַח

Definition:

26c and (Pi`el) Ecclesiasticus 11:25 (twice in verse); Aramaicשְׁכַךְisfind); —Qal86Perfect3masculine singular׳שׁPsalm 9:13+, suffixשְׁכֵחָ֑נִיIsaiah 49:14; 2feminine singularשָׁכַחְתְּJeremiah 13:25; 26c and (Pi`el) Ecclesiasticus 11:25 (twice in verse); Aramaicשְׁכַךְisfind); —Qal86Perfect3masculine singular׳שׁPsalm 9:13+, suffixשְׁכֵחָ֑נִיIsaiah 49:14; 2feminine singularשָׁכַחְתְּJeremiah 13:25;

Possible Meanings:

be found (semantic_range)

H0349 אֵיךְ

Definition:

9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137 9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137

Possible Meanings:

How? (semantic_range)
How! (semantic_range)

H4191 מוּת

Definition:

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill -- X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-manc to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill -- X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-manc

H2450 חָכָם

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

wise (semantic_range)
skilful (semantic_range)
wise in the administration of affairs (semantic_range)
shrewd (semantic_range)
crafty (semantic_range)

H5973 עִם

Definition:

H3684 כְּסִיל

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

Orion (semantic_range)

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