American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 8:7
7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
- New International Version (NIV)Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?
- English Standard Version (ESV)For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
- New King James Version (NKJV)For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:7
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment: 6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him: for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be? 8There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it. 9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:7 word by word
כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ יֹדֵ֖עַ מַה־שֶּׁיִּֽהְיֶ֑ה כִּ֚י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיֶ֔ה מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:7
- Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knoweth what is good for man in his 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?
- Ecclesiastes 9:12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
- Ecclesiastes 10:14A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
- Proverbs 24:22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?
- Proverbs 29:1He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
- Matthew 24:44Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
- Matthew 25:6But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7When - Or, as in the margin. For the meaning of this verse, compare marginal references.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 God has, in wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of future events, that we may be always ready for changes. We must all die, no flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there any weapons of effectual resistance. Ninety thousand die every day, upwards of sixty every minute, and one every moment. How solemn the thought! Oh that men were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end! The believer alone is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8Our strength, goodness, and wisdom cannot prevent disasters, so choosing wickedness would be pointless.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. he--the sinner, by neglecting times (for example, "the accepted time, and the day of salvation, 2Co 6:2), is taken by surprise by the judgment (Ec 3:22; 6:12; 9:12). The godly wise observe the due times of things (Ec 3:1), and so, looking for the judgment, are not taken by surprise, though not knowing the precise "when" (1Th 5:2-4); they "know the time" to all saving purposes (Ro 13:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries