--- title: Ecclesiastes 8:17 — then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work… · Hebrew, tree and pragmatics description: then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. Who acts: I, man, wise man, God. Ecclesiastes 8 --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.8.17/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tanakh/) / [Ketuvim](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/) / [Ecclesiastes](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/) / [chapter 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/8/) / 8:17 # Ecclesiastes 8:17 קֹהֶלֶת **Who acts:** I, man, wise man, God · **What happens:** behold, not find out, do, labour, seek out, not find · **To what, where:** work, sun This is Ecclesiastes 8:17 from Mova's open Bible corpus, the Tanakh in three languages (Ketuvim — the Writings). The page gives the verse in Hebrew as the Westminster Leningrad Codex has it, its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, built from MACULA Hebrew — and its pragmatics: who acts — I, man, wise man, God — and what happens in the verse to work, sun, read clause by clause by Mova's frames. Beside it stand the Aramaic of the Targum and the English of the Jewish Publication Society's 1917 translation, each English sentence with a tree of its own. It is one of the 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes on this site, all built by Mova itself from its own trees, with no large model in between. וְרָאִיתִי֮ אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִים֒ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכַ֜ל הָאָדָ֗ם לִמְצוֹא֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ בְּ֠שֶׁל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲמֹ֧ל הָאָדָ֛ם לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑א וְגַ֨ם אִם־יֹאמַ֤ר הֶֽחָכָם֙ לָדַ֔עַת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִמְצֹֽא׃ [then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/ECC.169/) ## The tree {#tree} Right to left, as the Hebrew is read; a prefix or suffix is a word of its own, and a line under the words joins those written as one. Under each word its part of speech and MACULA's English gloss. ```conllu rtl gloss # sent_id = wlc:ECC:159 # text = וְרָאִיתִי֮ אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִים֒ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכַ֜ל הָאָדָ֗ם לִמְצוֹא֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ בְּ֠שֶׁל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲמֹ֧ל הָאָדָ֛ם לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑א וְגַ֨ם אִם־יֹאמַ֤ר הֶֽחָכָם֙ לָדַ֔עַת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִמְצֹֽא׃ # verse = ECC.8.17 1-2 וְרָאִיתִי֮ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 וְ וְ CCONJ _ _ 2 cc _ Gloss=and|Ref=ECC_8:17!1|MId=o210080170011|Strong=2050b 2 רָאִיתִי֮ רָאָה VERB _ Gender=Com|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=1 0 root _ Gloss=I.saw|Ref=ECC_8:17!1|MId=o210080170012|Strong=7200|Frame=A0:210070270051;A1:210080170041;|Type=weqatal 3 אֶת־ אֵת ADP _ _ 4 case _ Gloss=(et)|Ref=ECC_8:17!2|MId=o210080170021|Strong=0853|Type=direct_object_marker|SpaceAfter=No 4 כָּל־ כֹּל NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 2 obj _ Gloss=all|Ref=ECC_8:17!3|MId=o210080170031|Strong=3605|SpaceAfter=No 5 מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂה NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 4 compound:smixut _ Gloss=the.work|Ref=ECC_8:17!4|MId=o210080170041|Strong=4639 6-7 הָאֱלֹהִים֒ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 הָ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 7 det _ Gloss=of.(the)|Ref=ECC_8:17!5|MId=o210080170051|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 7 אֱלֹהִים֒ אֱלֹהִים NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Plur 5 compound:smixut _ Gloss=God|Ref=ECC_8:17!5|MId=o210080170052|Strong=0430 8 כִּי֩ כִּי SCONJ _ _ 10 mark _ Gloss=(dm)|Ref=ECC_8:17!6|MId=o210080170061|Strong=3588 9 לֹ֨א לֹא ADV _ _ 10 advmod _ Gloss=not|Ref=ECC_8:17!7|MId=o210080170071|Strong=3808|Type=negative 10 יוּכַ֜ל יָכֹל VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 2 advcl _ Gloss=he.is.able|Ref=ECC_8:17!8|MId=o210080170081|Strong=3201|Frame=A0:210080170092;|Type=yiqtol 11-12 הָאָדָ֗ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11 הָ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 12 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_8:17!9|MId=o210080170091|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 12 אָדָ֗ם אָדָם NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 10 nsubj _ Gloss=humankind|Ref=ECC_8:17!9|MId=o210080170092|Strong=0120 13-14 לִמְצוֹא֙ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13 לִ לְ ADP _ _ 14 case _ Gloss=to|Ref=ECC_8:17!10|MId=o210080170101|Strong=3807a 14 מְצוֹא֙ מָצָא VERB _ HebBinyan=QAL 10 xcomp _ Gloss=find.out|Ref=ECC_8:17!10|MId=o210080170102|Strong=4672|Frame=A0:210080170092;A1:210080170122;|Type=infinitive_construct 15 אֶת־ אֵת ADP _ _ 17 case _ Gloss=(et)|Ref=ECC_8:17!11|MId=o210080170111|Strong=0853|Type=direct_object_marker|SpaceAfter=No 16-17 הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 16 הַֽ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 17 det _ Gloss=the|Ref=ECC_8:17!12|MId=o210080170121|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 17 מַּעֲשֶׂה֙ מַעֲשֶׂה NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 14 obj _ Gloss=work|Ref=ECC_8:17!12|MId=o210080170122|Strong=4639 18 אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲשֶׁר SCONJ _ _ 19 mark _ Gloss=which|Ref=ECC_8:17!13|MId=o210080170131|Strong=0834|Type=relative 19 נַעֲשָׂ֣ה עָשָׂה VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=NIPHAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 17 acl:relcl _ Gloss=it.is.done|Ref=ECC_8:17!14|MId=o210080170141|Strong=6213|Frame=A1:210080170122;|Type=qatal 20 תַֽחַת־ תַּחַת NOUN _ _ 19 obl _ Gloss=under|Ref=ECC_8:17!15|MId=o210080170151|Strong=8478|SpaceAfter=No 21-22 הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21 הַ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 22 det _ Gloss=the|Ref=ECC_8:17!16|MId=o210080170161|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 22 שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ שֶׁמֶשׁ NOUN _ Number=Sing 20 compound:smixut _ Gloss=sun|Ref=ECC_8:17!16|MId=o210080170162|Strong=8121 23-25 בְּ֠שֶׁל _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 23 בְּ֠ בְּ ADP _ _ 34 dislocated _ Gloss=in|Ref=ECC_8:17!17|MId=o210080170171|Strong=0871a 24 שֶׁ שֶׁ SCONJ _ _ 25 mark _ Gloss=that|Ref=ECC_8:17!17|MId=o210080170172|Strong=7578a|Type=relative 25 ל לְ ADP _ _ 23 acl:relcl _ Gloss=(to)|Ref=ECC_8:17!17|MId=o210080170173|Strong=3807a 26 אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲשֶׁר SCONJ _ _ 27 mark _ Gloss=that|Ref=ECC_8:17!18|MId=o210080170181|Strong=0834|Type=relative 27 יַעֲמֹ֧ל עָמַל VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 25 acl:relcl _ Gloss=he.toils|Ref=ECC_8:17!19|MId=o210080170191|Strong=5998|Frame=A0:210080170202;|Type=yiqtol 28-29 הָאָדָ֛ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 28 הָ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 29 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_8:17!20|MId=o210080170201|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 29 אָדָ֛ם אָדָם NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 27 nsubj _ Gloss=humankind|Ref=ECC_8:17!20|MId=o210080170202|Strong=0120 30-31 לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 30 לְ לְ ADP _ _ 31 case _ Gloss=to|Ref=ECC_8:17!21|MId=o210080170211|Strong=3807a 31 בַקֵּ֖שׁ בָּקַשׁ VERB _ HebBinyan=PIEL 27 advcl _ Gloss=seek|Ref=ECC_8:17!21|MId=o210080170212|Strong=1245|Frame=A0:210080170202;A1:210080170122;|Type=infinitive_construct 32-33 וְלֹ֣א _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 32 וְ וְ CCONJ _ _ 34 cc _ Gloss=and|Ref=ECC_8:17!22|MId=o210080170221|Strong=2050b 33 לֹ֣א לֹא ADV _ _ 34 advmod _ Gloss=not|Ref=ECC_8:17!22|MId=o210080170222|Strong=3808|Type=negative 34 יִמְצָ֑א מָצָא VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 2 parataxis _ Gloss=he.will.find.out|Ref=ECC_8:17!23|MId=o210080170231|Strong=4672|Frame=A0:210080170202;A1:210080170122;|Type=yiqtol 35-36 וְגַ֨ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 35 וְ וְ CCONJ _ _ 44 cc _ Gloss=and|Ref=ECC_8:17!24|MId=o210080170241|Strong=2050b 36 גַ֨ם גַּם ADV _ _ 44 advmod _ Gloss=also|Ref=ECC_8:17!24|MId=o210080170242|Strong=1571|Type=affirmation 37 אִם־ אִם SCONJ _ _ 38 mark _ Gloss=if|Ref=ECC_8:17!25|MId=o210080170251|Strong=0518|SpaceAfter=No 38 יֹאמַ֤ר אָמַר VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 44 advcl _ Gloss=he.will.say|Ref=ECC_8:17!26|MId=o210080170261|Strong=0559|Frame=A0:210080170272;|Type=yiqtol 39-40 הֶֽחָכָם֙ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 39 הֶֽ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 40 det _ Gloss=the.wise|Ref=ECC_8:17!27|MId=o210080170271|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 40 חָכָם֙ חָכָם ADJ _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 38 nsubj _ Gloss=[person]|Ref=ECC_8:17!27|MId=o210080170272|Strong=2450|Type=adjective 41-42 לָדַ֔עַת _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 41 לָ לְ ADP _ _ 42 case _ Gloss=to|Ref=ECC_8:17!28|MId=o210080170281|Strong=3807a 42 דַ֔עַת יָדַע VERB _ HebBinyan=QAL 38 advcl _ Gloss=know|Ref=ECC_8:17!28|MId=o210080170282|Strong=3045|Frame=A0:210080170272;A1:210080170122;|Type=infinitive_construct 43 לֹ֥א לֹא ADV _ _ 44 advmod _ Gloss=not|Ref=ECC_8:17!29|MId=o210080170291|Strong=3808|Type=negative 44 יוּכַ֖ל יָכֹל VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 2 conj _ Gloss=he.will.be.able|Ref=ECC_8:17!30|MId=o210080170301|Strong=3201|Frame=A0:210080170272;|Type=yiqtol 45-46 לִמְצֹֽא _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 45 לִ לְ ADP _ _ 46 case _ Gloss=to|Ref=ECC_8:17!31|MId=o210080170311|Strong=3807a 46 מְצֹֽא מָצָא VERB _ HebBinyan=QAL 44 xcomp _ Gloss=find.out|Ref=ECC_8:17!31|MId=o210080170312|Strong=4672|Frame=A0:210080170272;A1:210080170122;|Type=infinitive_construct 47 ׃ ׃ PUNCT _ _ 46 punct _ Ref=ECC_8:17!31 ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} - form: statement - act: promise - voice: character - speech: inside a quote begun earlier - negation: yes | verb | form · stem | who (A0) | what, whom (A1) | to whom, further (A2) | who makes it happen (AA) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | רָאִיתִי *I saw* | weqatal · qal | | מַעֲשֵׂה *the work* | | | | **not** יוּכַל *he is able* | yiqtol · qal | אָדָם *humankind* | | | | | מְצוֹא *find out* | infinitive construct · qal | אָדָם *humankind* | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | | נַעֲשָׂה *it is done* | qatal · niphal | | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | | יַעֲמֹל *he toils* | yiqtol · qal | אָדָם *humankind* | | | | | בַקֵּשׁ *seek* | infinitive construct · piel | אָדָם *humankind* | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | | **not** יִמְצָא *he will find out* | yiqtol · qal | אָדָם *humankind* | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | | יֹאמַר *he will say* | yiqtol · qal | חָכָם *\[person\]* | | | | | דַעַת *know* | infinitive construct · qal | חָכָם *\[person\]* | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | | **not** יוּכַל *he will be able* | yiqtol · qal | חָכָם *\[person\]* | | | | | מְצֹֽא *find out* | infinitive construct · qal | חָכָם *\[person\]* | מַּעֲשֶׂה *work* | | | MACULA's semantic frames: for each verb the head word of each participant. A0 is the one who acts, A1 what the act is done to or is about, A2 a further participant; AA, with a causative verb, the one who makes it happen. ## The Targum {#onkelos} וַחֲזֵית אֲנָא יָת כָּל עוֹבַד גְּבוּרְתָּא דַּיָי אֲרוּם דְּחִילָא הוּא וְלֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לֶאֱנָשׁ לְאַשְׁכָּחָא יָת עוֹבַד גְּבוּרְתָּא דַּיָי דְּאִתְעֲבֵיד בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא כַּד יִטְרַח אֱנָשׁ לְמִתְבַּע מַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי וְלָא יַשְׁכַּח וְאַף אִם יֵימַר גְּבַר חַכִּים בְּמֵימְרֵיהּ לְמִנְדַּע מַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי בְּסוֹף יוֹמַיָּא לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְמִשְׁכַּח: The Aramaic translation read beside the Hebrew. Text only: Mova has no Aramaic parser yet. ## English, JPS 1917 {#english} Each sentence on its own page, with its tree and pragmatics. A sentence that runs on into the next verse is listed under the verse it begins in. 1. [then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/ECC.169/) **Hebrew text:** Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. **Tree, glosses and frames:** MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets, available at [github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-hebrew](https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-hebrew/), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); converted to Universal Dependencies by Mova (words in text order, a prefix its own word). **Speech act:** Mova's rules on the MACULA words (`macula prag`). **Targum:** Onkelos (Torat Emet), Jonathan and the Writings (Mikraot Gedolot), from Sefaria, public domain. **English:** JPS 1917, public domain; trees and speech acts by Mova's cycle, frames by Mova's reader (Elamur Cosmic License). Hebrew sentence `wlc:ECC:159`. - ← previous: [Ecclesiastes 8:16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.8.16/) - next →: [Ecclesiastes 9:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.9.1/) - ↑ back to [Ecclesiastes 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/8/)