John Gill Commentary Ecclesiastes 7:25

"I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness." — Ecclesiastes 7:25 (ASV)

I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out
wisdom

Or, "I and my heart turned about" ^F8; took a circuit, a tour throughout the whole compass of things; looked into every corner, and went through the circle of knowledge, in order to search and find out what true wisdom is; which is no other than Christ, and a spiritual knowledge of him; a variety of words is used to express his eager desire after wisdom, and the diligent search he made, from which he was not discouraged by the difficulties he met with; see (Ecclesiastes 1:13).

and the reason [of things]; either in nature or providence: or the estimation ^F9 of them; the excellency of them, how much they are to be accounted of, esteemed, and valued; as Christ, the Wisdom of God, and all things relating to him, should.

and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and]
madness; the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the folly and madness that are in it; sin is the effect of folly, and the excess of it, and a spiritual madness; it is true of all sin in general, but especially of the sin of uncleanness, which Solomon seems to have in view by what follows; see (Ecclesiastes 1:17) (2:12); and may chiefly intend the wickedness of his own folly, and the foolishness of his own madness.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (yblw yna ytwbo) "circuivi ego et cor meum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
• F9: (Nwbvx) "estimationem rerum", Mercerus.