King James Version

What Does Ecclesiastes 7:27 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 7:27 in the King James Version says “Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: counting: or, weighing one ...” — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: counting: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason”

Ecclesiastes 7:27 · KJV

Context

25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: I applied: Heb. I and mine heart compassed

26

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. whoso: Heb. he that is good before God

27

Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: counting: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason

28

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Read Ecclesiastes 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher (רְאֵה זֶה מָצָאתִי אָמְרָה קֹהֶלֶת, re'eh zeh matsati amrah qohelet)—'See, this I have found, says Qohelet.' The verb matsati (I have found) contrasts with verse 24's 'who can find it?'—some things can be discovered through diligent search. Counting one by one, to find out the account (אַחַת לְאַחַת לִמְצֹא חֶשְׁבּוֹן, achat le'achat limtso cheshbon)—literally 'one to one to find the reckoning,' suggesting painstaking, methodical analysis.

Qoheleth emphasizes his empirical method: achat le'achat (one by one) indicates systematic observation rather than hasty generalization. The term cheshbon (reckoning, account, sum) suggests he's seeking patterns or principles from accumulated data. This is inductive reasoning—examining individual cases to derive general conclusions. The phrase 'saith the preacher' (amrah qohelet) provides authorial emphasis, marking this as considered judgment, not casual opinion. What follows in verses 28-29 are his sobering findings from this methodical investigation of human nature and behavior.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This methodology reflects ancient wisdom tradition's empirical approach—observation, testing, reasoning from evidence. Unlike speculative Greek philosophy, Hebrew wisdom emphasized learning from concrete experience and documented observation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Qoheleth's 'one by one' method model careful investigation versus hasty judgment?
  2. In what areas of understanding might you benefit from more systematic observation before drawing conclusions?
  3. How do you balance inductive learning from experience with deductive application of revealed Scripture?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
רְאֵה֙1 of 9

“Behold”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

זֶ֣ה2 of 9
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לִמְצֹ֥א3 of 9

“this have I found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

אָמְרָ֖ה4 of 9

“saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

קֹהֶ֑לֶת5 of 9

“the preacher”

H6953

a (female) assembler (i.e., lecturer); abstractly, preaching (used as a 'nom de plume', koheleth)

לְאַחַ֖ת6 of 9

“by one”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

לְאַחַ֖ת7 of 9

“by one”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

לִמְצֹ֥א8 of 9

“this have I found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃9 of 9

“the account”

H2808

properly, contrivance; by implication, intelligence

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ecclesiastes 7:27 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ecclesiastes 7:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 12:8-10Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

Test Your Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 7 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEcclesiastes Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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