Ecclesiastes 9:13I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. Solomon begins telling a story about wisdom he witnessed, setting up a parable in modern-day Israel's ancient capital.
The emotion here: intrigued by a story he's about to tell
The original word
chokhmah (חָכְמָה) — practical skill for living, not just knowledge but applied understanding
Why it matters
Solomon collected thousands of proverbs and parables from across his kingdom and neighboring lands
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 9:13
This is Solomon's setup line - he's about to tell a specific story that amazed even him
Common misconceptionPeople read this as general praise for wisdom, but it's actually Solomon's introduction to a specific story that follows - he's building suspense.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 9:13
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 9:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 9:13 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, observation. Notable phrases: wisdom under the sun; seemed great to me.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 9:13 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "seeking"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.