Darby Bible
Ecclesiastes 11:2
2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
Context of Ecclesiastes 11:2
1Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 11Ecclesiastes 11:2 word by word
תֶּן־חֵ֥לֶק לְשִׁבְעָ֖ה וְגַ֣ם לִשְׁמוֹנָ֑ה כִּ֚י לֹ֣א תֵדַ֔ע מַה־יִּהְיֶ֥ה רָעָ֖ה עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:2
- Nehemiah 8:10And he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared; for the day is holy to our Lord; and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.
- Esther 9:19Therefore the Jews of the villages that dwell in the country towns make the fourteenth of the month Adar a day of joy and feasting, and a good day, and on which they send portions one to another.
- Psalms 112:9He scattereth abroad, he giveth to the needy; his righteousness abideth for ever: his horn shall be exalted with honour.
- Luke 6:30To every one that asks of thee, give; and from him that takes away what is thine, ask it not back.
- 1 Timothy 6:18to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, disposed to communicate [of their substance],
- Job 5:19He will deliver thee in six troubles, and in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
- Proverbs 6:16These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
- Micah 5:5And this [man] shall be Peace. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight princes of men.
- Matthew 18:22Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven.
- Luke 17:4And if he should sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times should return to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- Acts 11:28and one from among them, by name Agabus, rose up and signified by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth, which also came to pass under Claudius.
- Galatians 6:1Brethren, if even a man be taken in some fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.
- Ephesians 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Hebrews 13:3Remember prisoners, as bound with [them]; those that are evil-treated, as being yourselves also in [the] body.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Give a portion to seven - Never cease giving while thou seest a person in distress, and hast wherewithal to relieve him. Thou knowest not what evil - Such may be the change of times, that thou mayest yet stand in need of similar help thyself. Do as thou wouldst be done by.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The verse means: “Let your hospitality and your alms be extensive: for you know not what reverses may befall either that person who by your liberality will be strengthened to meet them, or yourself who may come to need grateful friends.” Compare Luke 16:9. Seven, and also to eight - A definite number for an indefinite (compare marginal reference).Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2We should invest our resources instead of hoarding them, even if we cannot control the outcomes.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. portion--of thy bread. seven--the perfect number. eight--even to more than seven; that is, "to many" (so "waters," Ec 11:1), nay, even to very many in need (Job 5:19; Mi 5:5). evil--The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (Lu 16:9). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:2
In the dictionaries
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
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
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