Ecclesiastes 6:10

Ecclesiastes 6:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
• New International Version (NIV)Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:10

8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? 12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:10 word by word

מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗ה כְּבָר֙ נִקְרָ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ וְנוֹדָ֖ע אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אָדָ֑ם וְלֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לָדִ֔ין עִ֥ם שֶׁתַּקִּ֖יף מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear

• Whateverמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• existsהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• was namedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• was namedשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• long agoכְּבָרkebâr · alreadyH3528
• and it is knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• but heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• contendדִּיןdîyn dûn · to judgeH1777
• withעִם‛im · withH5973
• one strongerתָּקֵףtâqaph · to prevailH8630
• than heמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:10

• Ecclesiastes 1:9What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 3:15What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
• Genesis 3:9But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”
• Job 14:1“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
• Psalms 39:6Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
• Psalms 82:6I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’
• Psalms 103:15As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
• Job 9:3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
• Job 33:13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
• Job 40:2“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
• Isaiah 45:9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
• Jeremiah 49:19Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
• Romans 9:19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10That which hath been is named already - The Hebrew of this verse might be translated, "Who is he who is? His name has been already called. And it is known that he is Adam; and that he cannot contend in judgment with him who is stronger than he." "What is more excellent than man; yet can he not, in the lawe, get the victory of him that is mightier than he." - Coverdale. Adam is his name; and it at once points out, His dignity; he was made in the image of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Or, “That which has been named - i. e., events past or current, either Ecclesiastes 1:9 as they present themselves to man, or Ecclesiastes 3:15 as they are ordered by God - was long ago (i. e., was decreed, its nature and place were defined by the Almighty), and was known that it is man;” i. e., the course of events shapes the conduct and character of man, so that what he does and suffers is said to be or constitute the man. God from the beginning…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which dwells only upon present…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Whatever exists was named long ago: See Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5, 11. it is known what man is: See Psalms 139:15–16. he cannot contend with one stronger than he: See Romans 9:20–24.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Part II begins here. Since man's toils are vain, what is the chief good? (Ec 6:12). The answer is contained in the rest of the book. That which hath been--man's various circumstances is named already--not only has existed, Ec 1:9; 3:15, but has received its just name, "vanity," long ago, and it is known that it--vanity is man--Hebrew, "Adam," equivalent to man "of red dust," as his Creator appropriately named him from his frailty. neither may he…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:10

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In the dictionaries

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Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6

• 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