Ecclesiastes 2:13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~970 BC. King Solomon sits in his palace, reflecting on his experiments with pleasure, projects, and learning. Modern-day Israel.
The emotion here: methodical but growing disillusioned
The original word
yitron (יִתְרוֹן) — profit, advantage, what remains when costs are subtracted
Why it matters
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, making him history's most experienced researcher of human pleasure
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 2:13
Solomon isn't praising wisdom here - he's setting up to demolish it in the next verse
Common misconceptionPeople think Solomon is endorsing wisdom here. He's actually building a case that even wisdom - though better than folly - ultimately disappoints because death erases all advantages.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 2:13
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 2:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 2:13 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, discernment, understanding. Notable phrases: wisdom excels folly; light excels darkness.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 2:13 mean to you, today?
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