Ecclesiastes 6:1

Ecclesiastes 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
• New International Version (NIV)I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind:
• English Standard Version (ESV)There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:
• New King James Version (NKJV)There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:1

There is a tragedy that I have seen under the sun. It is a terrible one for mortals. 2God gives one person riches, wealth, and honor so that he doesn’t lack anything he wants. Yet, God doesn’t give him the power to enjoy any of them. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless and is a painful tragedy. 3Suppose a rich person wasn’t satisfied with good things ⌞while he was alive⌟ and didn’t even get an honorable burial ⌞after he died⌟. Suppose he had a hundred children and lived for many years. No matter how long he would have lived, it ⌞still⌟ would have been better for him to have been born dead.

Ecclesiastes 6:1 word by word

יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְרַבָּ֥ה הִ֖יא עַל־הָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• There isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• an evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• which I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• commonרַבrab · manyH7227
• among menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:1

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Common among - Rather, great (heavy) upon people.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The vanity of riches. Also of long life and flourishing families. (Eccl. 6:1-6) The little advantage any one has in outward things. (Eccl. 6:7-12) Verses 1-6 A man often has all he needs for outward enjoyment; yet the Lord leaves him so to covetousness or evil dispositions, that he makes no good or comfortable use of what he has. By one means or other his possessions come to strangers; this is vanity, and an evil disease. A numerous family was a matter of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2This parable of the "unfortunate man" is similar to Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 and 5:13–17. It is a sad tragedy when someone succeeds but cannot enjoy their success. This person misses the only real benefit of success.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-12Ec 6:1-12. 1. common--or else more literally,--"great upon man," falls heavily upon man.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:1

• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Heavy; Heaviness
• 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