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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

Context of Ecclesiastes 11:8

6In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. 7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 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. 9Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But if a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• in them all; yet let him rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• All that comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Ecclesiastes 6:6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
• Deuteronomy 32:29If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!
• Job 10:22the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness."
• Job 14:10But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
• Job 15:23He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;
• Job 18:18He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
• Joel 2:2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
• Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
• John 12:35So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

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