Ecclesiastes 11:8

Ecclesiastes 11:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
• New International Version (NIV)However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.

Context of Ecclesiastes 11:8

6Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good. 7The light is sweet and pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility. 9Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things. 10Therefore, remove sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, for childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 word by word

כִּ֣י אִם־שָׁנִ֥ים הַרְבֵּ֛ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם בְּכֻלָּ֣ם יִשְׂמָ֑ח וְיִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ כִּֽי־הַרְבֵּ֥ה יִהְי֖וּ כָּל־שֶׁבָּ֥א הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But if a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• in them all; yet let him rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• All that comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Ecclesiastes 6:6Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment—do not both go to one place [the grave]?”
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life [seemingly] is prolonged [in spite of his wickedness], still I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who fear and worship Him openly [realizing His omnipresence and His power].
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live;
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one as well as the other, So that man will not find out anything that will be after him.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;
• Deuteronomy 32:29O that they were wise, that they understood this, That they could discern their future and ultimate fate!
• Job 10:22The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself, [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”
• Job 14:10But [the brave, strong] man must die and lie face down; Man breathes his last, and where is he?
• Job 15:23He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness and destruction is already at hand.
• Job 18:18He is driven and propelled from light into darkness, And chased from the inhabited world.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God, Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the dark and shadowy mountains, And while you are longing for light He turns it into the shadow of death, And makes it into thick darkness.
• Joel 2:2A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and of thick [dark] mist, Like the dawn spread over the mountains; There is a [pagan, hostile] people numerous and mighty, The like of which has never been before Nor will be again afterward Even for years of many generations.
• Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’
• John 12:35So Jesus said to them, “The Light is among you [only] a little while longer. Walk while you have the Light [keep on living by it], so that darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going [he is drifting aimlessly].

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8If a man live many years - And even have prosperity through the whole; yet the days of darkness - times of affliction, weakness, and perhaps old age, will be many. If he die not a violent death, which no man can wish, he will die a lingering death; and this is ordinarily attended with many pains, and many sorrows; therefore let him prepare to meet his God; and to carry this thought through life, that all must terminate in death. The writer of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecclesiastes 11:7 The light … the sun - Gifts of God which cheer man‘s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecclesiastes 11:8 Days of darkness - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give loose to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (Job 10:21, 22; Psa 88:12), also days of "evil" in this world (Ec 11:2), are coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last, which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties. All that cometh--that is, All that followeth in the evil and dark days is vain, as far as work for God is concerned…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Death
• Joy

In the dictionaries

• Childhood
• Empty
• Regard
• Remove
• Dark; Darkness

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings