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

6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 7Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun; 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. 9Rejoice, young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. 10Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.

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

• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Ecclesiastes 6:6Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, because they fear before him;
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Behold what I have seen good and comely: [it is] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith [man] laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for that is his portion.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15And I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
• Deuteronomy 32:29Oh that they had been wise! they would have understood this, They would have considered their latter end!
• Job 10:22A land of gloom, as darkness itself; of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as thick darkness.
• Job 14:10But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
• Job 15:23He wandereth abroad for bread, — where may it be? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
• Job 18:18He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to Jehovah your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the mountains of twilight; and ye shall look for light, but he will turn it into the shadow of death, and make [it] gross darkness.
• Joel 2:2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and gross darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; — a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, to the years of generations and generations.
• Matthew 22:13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him feet and hands, and take him away, and cast him out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
• John 12:35Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little while is the light amongst you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. And he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

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