English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 8:7
7For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
- New International Version (NIV)Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?
- New King James Version (NKJV)For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:7
5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:7 word by word
כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ יֹדֵ֖עַ מַה־שֶּׁיִּֽהְיֶ֑ה כִּ֚י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיֶ֔ה מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:7
- Ecclesiastes 6:12For 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 9:12For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
- Ecclesiastes 10:14A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
- Proverbs 24:22for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
- Proverbs 29:1He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
- Matthew 24:44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
- Matthew 25:6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7When - Or, as in the margin. For the meaning of this verse, compare marginal references.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 God has, in wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of future events, that we may be always ready for changes. We must all die, no flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there any weapons of effectual resistance. Ninety thousand die every day, upwards of sixty every minute, and one every moment. How solemn the thought! Oh that men were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end! The believer alone is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8Our strength, goodness, and wisdom cannot prevent disasters, so choosing wickedness would be pointless.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. he--the sinner, by neglecting times (for example, "the accepted time, and the day of salvation, 2Co 6:2), is taken by surprise by the judgment (Ec 3:22; 6:12; 9:12). The godly wise observe the due times of things (Ec 3:1), and so, looking for the judgment, are not taken by surprise, though not knowing the precise "when" (1Th 5:2-4); they "know the time" to all saving purposes (Ro 13:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries