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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 6:12 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 6:12 |
Strong Concordance |
For who knoweth [03045] what is good [02896] for man [0120] in this life [02416], all [04557] the days [03117] of his vain [01892] life [02416] which he spendeth [06213] as a shadow [06738]? for who can tell [05046] a man [0120] what shall be after [0310] him under the sun [08121]? |
| |
King James |
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| For who knoweth, &c.--The ungodly know not what is really "good" during life, nor "what shall be after them," that is, what will be the event of their undertakings (Ecc 3:22; Ecc 8:7). The godly might be tempted to "contend with God" (Ecc 6:10) as to His dispensations; but they cannot fully know the wise purposes served by them now and hereafter. Their sufferings from the oppressors are more really good for them than cloudless prosperity; sinners are being allowed to fill up their measure of guilt. Retribution in part vindicates God's ways even now. The judgment shall make all clear. In Ecc. 7:1-29, he states what is good, in answer to this verse. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| After him - i. e., On earth, in his own present sphere of action, after his departure hence (compare Ecc 2:19; Ecc 3:22). |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| Man ought to fear God, and also, without dispute and murmuring, submit to His sway: "For who knoweth what is good for man in life during the number of the days of his vain life, and which he spendeth like a shadow? No one can certainly show a man what shall be after him under the sun." We translate אשׁר only by "ja" ("certainly"), because in Germ. no interrogative can follow "dieweil" ("because"). The clause with asher (as at Ecc 4:9; Ecc 8:11; Ecc 10:15; cf. Song, under Sol 5:2), according to its meaning not different from ki, is related in the way of proof to that beginning with ki. Man is placed in our presence. To be able to say to him what is good for him, - i.e., what position he must take in life, what direction he must give to his activity, what decision he must adopt in difficult and important cases, - we ought not only to be able to penetrate his future, but, generally, the future; but, as Tropfen drops in the stream of history, we are poor Trpfe simpletons, who are hedged up within the present. Regarding the accus. of duration, וגו מספּר, pointing to the brevity of human life, vid., at Ecc 2:3. With הבלו, the attribute of breath-like transitiveness is assigned to life (as at Ecc 7:15; Ecc 9:9) (as already in the name given to Abel, the second son of Adam), which is continued by כּ ויע with the force of a relative clause, which is frequently the case after preceding part. attrib., e.g., Isa 5:23. We translate: which he spendeth like the (1) shadow [in the nom.] (after Ecc 8:13; Job 14:2); not: like a shadow [in the accus.]; for although the days of life are also likened to a shadow, Psa 144:4, etc., yet this use of עשׂה does not accord therewith, which, without being a Graecism (Zirkel, Grtz), harmonises with the Greek phrase, ποιεῖν χρόνον, Act 15:33; cf. Pro 13:23, lxx (also with the Lat. facere dies of Cicero, etc.). Thus also in the Syr. and Palest.-Aram. lacad is used of time, in the sense of transigere. Aharav does not mean: after his present condition (Zckl.); but, as at Ecc 3:22; Ecc 7:14 : after he has passed away from this scene. Luzz. explains it correctly: Whether his children will remain in life? Whether the wealth he has wearied himself in acquiring will remain and be useful to them? But these are only illustrations. The author means to say, that a man can say, neither to himself nor to another, what in definite cases is the real advantage; because, in order to say this, he must be able to look far into the future beyond the limits of the individual life of man, which is only a small member of a great whole. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Who knoweth - No man certainly knows what is better for him here, whether to be high or low, rich or poor. Vain life - Life itself is a vain and uncertain thing, and therefore all things which depend on it must be so too. While - While it abides, hath nothing solid, or substantial in it, and which speedily passes away, and leaves no sign behind it. For - And as no man can be happy with these things while he lives, so he can have no content in leaving them to others, because he knows not either who shall possess them, or how the future owners will use or abuse them. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life - Those things which we deem good are often evil. And those which we think evil are often good. So ignorant are we, that we run the greatest hazard in making a choice. It is better to leave ourselves and our concerns in the hands of the Lord, than to keep them in our own.
For who can tell a man what shall be after him - Futurity is with God. While he lives, man wishes to know what is before him. When he is about to die, he wishes to know what will be after him. All this is vanity; God, because he is merciful, will reveal neither. |
10 That which hath been is named [07121] [08034] already [03528], and it is known [03045] that it is man [0120]: neither may [03201] he contend [01777] with him that is mightier [08623] than he.
7 For he knoweth [03045] not that which shall be: for who can tell [05046] him when it shall be?
22 Wherefore I perceive [07200] that there is nothing better [02896], than that a man [0120] should rejoice [08055] in his own works [04639]; for that is his portion [02506]: for who shall bring [0935] him to see [07200] what shall be after [0310] him?
22 Wherefore I perceive [07200] that there is nothing better [02896], than that a man [0120] should rejoice [08055] in his own works [04639]; for that is his portion [02506]: for who shall bring [0935] him to see [07200] what shall be after [0310] him?
19 And who knoweth [03045] whether he shall be a wise [02450] man or a fool [05530]? yet shall he have rule [07980] over all my labour [05999] wherein I have laboured [05998], and wherein I have shewed myself wise [02449] under the sun [08121]. This is also vanity [01892].
14 In the day [03117] of prosperity [02896] be joyful [02896], but in the day [03117] of adversity [07451] consider [07200]: God [0430] also hath set [06213] the one over against [05980] the other, to the end [01700] that man [0120] should find [04672] nothing [03972] after [0310] him.
22 Wherefore I perceive [07200] that there is nothing better [02896], than that a man [0120] should rejoice [08055] in his own works [04639]; for that is his portion [02506]: for who shall bring [0935] him to see [07200] what shall be after [0310] him?
23 Much [07230] food [0400] is in the tillage [05215] of the poor [07218] [07326]: but there is [03426] that is destroyed [05595] for want [03808] of judgment [04941].
33 And [1161] after they had tarried [4160] there a space [5550], they were let go [630] in [3326] peace [1515] from [575] the brethren [80] unto [4314] the apostles [652].
4 Man [0120] is like [01819] to vanity [01892]: his days [03117] are as a shadow [06738] that passeth away [05674].
2 He cometh forth [03318] like a flower [06731], and is cut down [05243]: he fleeth [01272] also as a shadow [06738], and continueth [05975] not.
13 But it shall not be well [02896] with the wicked [07563], neither shall he prolong [0748] his days [03117], which are as a shadow [06738]; because he feareth [03373] not before [06440] God [0430].
23 Which justify [06663] the wicked [07563] for [06118] reward [07810], and take away [05493] the righteousness [06666] of the righteous [06662] from him!
9 Live [02416] joyfully [07200] with the wife [0802] whom thou lovest [0157] all the days [03117] of the life [02416] of thy vanity [01892], which he hath given [05414] thee under the sun [08121], all the days [03117] of thy vanity [01892]: for that is thy portion [02506] in this life [02416], and in thy labour [05999] which thou takest [06001] under the sun [08121].
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].
3 I sought [08446] in mine heart [03820] to give [04900] myself [01320] unto wine [03196], yet acquainting [05090] mine heart [03820] with wisdom [02451]; and to lay hold [0270] on folly [05531], till I might see [07200] what was that good [02896] for the sons [01121] of men [0120], which they should do [06213] under the heaven [08064] all [04557] the days [03117] of their life [02416].
2 I sleep [03463], but my heart [03820] waketh [05782]: it is the voice [06963] of my beloved [01730] that knocketh [01849], saying, Open [06605] to me, my sister [0269], my love [07474], my dove [03123], my undefiled [08535]: for my head [07218] is filled [04390] with dew [02919], and my locks [06977] with the drops [07447] of the night [03915].
15 The labour [05999] of the foolish [03684] wearieth [03021] every one of them, because he knoweth [03045] not how to go [03212] to the city [05892].
11 Because sentence [06599] against an evil [07451] work [04639] is not executed [06213] speedily [04120], therefore the heart [03820] of the sons [01121] of men [0120] is fully set [04390] in them to do [06213] evil [07451].
9 Two [08147] are better [02896] than one [0259]; because they have [03426] a good [02896] reward [07939] for their labour [05999].