Ecclesiastes 9:11

Ecclesiastes 9:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
• New International Version (NIV)I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:11

9Love your wife and enjoy your life together with her. God has given you your life. It is a short life and it is difficult to understand everything that happens. God wants you to enjoy these things as you do hard work during your life on the earth. 10Use all your strength to do the work that you are doing. One day you will die and you will go into your grave. Then you will not have any work, or ideas, or knowledge or wisdom. So do your work well while you are alive. I have seen another thing that happens here on the earth. The runner who runs fastest does not always win the race. The strongest soldiers do not always win the battle. Very wise people do not always have food to eat. Very clever people do not always become rich. People who have learned many things are not always successful. Yes, anything may happen to anyone at any time. 12Nobody knows the time when trouble may come to them. A fish does not know when somebody will catch it in a net. A bird does not know when somebody will catch it in a trap. In the same way, terrible trouble suddenly happens to people when they do not expect it. 13I saw something else that happens on the earth. It is a good example of what wisdom is like.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 word by word

שַׁ֜בְתִּי וְרָאֹ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֣י לֹא֩ לַקַּלִּ֨ים הַמֵּר֜וֹץ וְלֹ֧א לַגִּבּוֹרִ֣ים הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְ֠גַם לֹ֣א לַחֲכָמִ֥ים לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְגַ֨ם לֹ֤א לַנְּבֹנִים֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א לַיֹּדְעִ֖ים חֵ֑ן כִּי־עֵ֥ת וָפֶ֖גַע יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• and sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• that the raceמֵרוֹץmêrôts · raceH4793
• not to the swiftקַלqal · swiftH7031
• nor the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• to the strongגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• neither yet breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• to the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• nor yet richesעֹ֫שֶׁר‛ôsher · richesH6239
• to men of understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• nor yet favourחֵןchên · favorH2580
• to men of skillיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• but timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• and chanceפֶּ֫גַעpega‛ · chanceH6294
• happenethקָרָהqârâh · to meetH7136

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:11

• Ecclesiastes 2:12Then I decided to think about wisdom. I also thought about foolish ways to live. I thought, ‘The next king will not do any more than I have already done.’
• Ecclesiastes 4:1I saw again all the ways that people are cruel on the earth. I saw some people who were crying because cruel people were hurting them. There was nobody who could help them. Nobody could rescue them from those cruel people.
• Malachi 3:18Because of that, you will see again that I am kind to good people, but I punish wicked people. I show the difference between people who serve me well and those who do not.’
• 1 Samuel 17:50In that way, David used a sling and a stone to win against the Philistine soldier. He knocked down the Philistine and he killed him. And David did not even hold a sword in his hand!
• 2 Samuel 2:18Zeruiah's three sons were there. They were Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a wild deer.
• 2 Samuel 17:14Absalom and all Israel's leaders said, ‘Hushai's idea is better than Ahithophel's idea.’ This happened because the Lord did not let the people accept Ahithophel's advice. His idea was a good one, but the Lord had decided to cause trouble for Absalom.
• Psalms 33:16A great army will not save their king. A soldier does not stay alive because he is strong.
• Psalms 73:6Their pride is like their necklace. They like to be cruel, as they like to wear clothes.
• Psalms 147:10If a horse is very strong, that does not please him. If a soldier is brave, that does not make him happy.
• Jeremiah 9:23The Lord says, ‘Wise people should not be proud of their wisdom. Powerful people should not be proud of their power. And rich people should not be proud that they are rich.
• Jeremiah 46:6But none of them can run fast enough. Even the strongest soldiers cannot escape. In the north, beside the River Euphrates, they fall down to the ground.
• Amos 2:14You might try to run away. But nobody will get free. Even the fastest runner will not get free. The strong people will not be strong enough to stop me. The soldiers will not be able to save their lives.
• Ecclesiastes 2:14Wise people can see where they are going. Foolish people walk in the dark. But at the end of their lives, there is no difference. They both die.
• Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that everything that God does continues for ever. Nobody can add anything to it. Nobody can take anything away from it. God does these things so that people will respect his authority.
• Ecclesiastes 7:13Think about the things that God has done. If God has bent something, nobody can make it straight again.
• 1 Samuel 2:3Do not boast or speak proud words! The Lord is a God who knows everything. He judges everything that people do.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The race is not to the swift - It is not by swiftness, nor by strength and valor, that races are gained and battles won. God causes the lame often to take the prey, the prize; and so works that the weak overthrow the strong; therefore, no man should confide in himself. All things are under the government, and at the disposal of God. But time and chance - עת eth, time or opportunity, and פגע pega, incident or occurrence: - Happeneth to them all - Every man…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 Read these six verses connectedly, in order to arrive at the meaning of the writer; and compare Ecclesiastes 2:1-12. After the description Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 of the portionless condition of the dead, the next thought which occurs is that the man who is prosperous and active should simply enjoy his portion all through this life Ecclesiastes 9:7-10; and then Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 follows the correcting thought (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 note)…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11Verse 11 ,12 Men's success seldom equals their expectations. We must use means, but not trust to them: if we succeed, we must give God the praise; if crossed, we must submit to his will. Those who put off the great concerns of their souls, are caught in Satan's net, which he baits with some worldly object, for which they reject or neglect the gospel, and go on in sin till they suddenly fall into destruction.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11chance: We cannot control the outcome (compare Ecclesiastes 7:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. This verse qualifies the sentiment, Ec 9:7-9. Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place (Ec 3:1), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires it. Reverting to the sentiment (Ec 8:17), we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work "with might" (Ec 9:10), but also with the feeling that the event is wholly "in God's hand" (Ec 9:1). race ... not to the swift--(2Sa 18:23); spiritually (Zep 3:19; Ro 9:16). nor ... battle to…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:11

• Race

In the dictionaries

• Chance
• Event
• Evil
• Games
• Remember
• Reward
• Happen
• Providence
• Skill; Skilful
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9

• 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