Ecclesiastes 8:16
16When I tried ▼▼tn Heb “I applied my heart.”
to gain ▼ wisdom
and to observe the activity ▼▼tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”
on earth—
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ▼▼tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction
גַםכִּי (
ki gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g.,
Ps 23:4;
Prov 22:6;
Eccl 4:14;
Isa 1:15;
Lam 3:8;
Hos 8:10;
9:16); cf.
HALOT 196 s.v.
גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v.
גַּם 6; 473 s.v.
כִּי 2.c.
—
