Ecclesiastes 6:11

Ecclesiastes 6:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
• New International Version (NIV)The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?
• New Living Translation (NLT)The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:11

9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 10Whatever 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. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:11 word by word

כִּ֛י יֵשׁ־דְּבָרִ֥ים הַרְבֵּ֖ה מַרְבִּ֣ים הָ֑בֶל מַה־יֹּתֵ֖ר לָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Seeing there beיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• the betterיוֹתֵרyôthêr · advantageH3148

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Ecclesiastes 1:6The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
• Ecclesiastes 5:7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
• Psalms 73:6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
• Hosea 12:1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Things - Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preacher‘s personal experience, and his observation of other people, ending with the comprehensive declaration in Ecclesiastes 6:10 to the effect that vanity is an essential part of the constitution of creation as it now exists, and was foreknown. What is man the better? - Rather, what is profitable to man?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. 11For the more words, the more futility: Compare with Proverbs 10:19 and Proverbs 17:28.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. "Seeing" that man cannot escape from the "vanity," which by God's "mighty" will is inherent in earthly things, and cannot call in question God's wisdom in these dispensations (equivalent to "contend," &c.), what is man the better--of these vain things as regards the chief good? None whatever.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Ignorance
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Synagogue, the Great

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