Ecclesiastes 6:10

Ecclesiastes 6:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
• New International Version (NIV)Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whatever 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:10

8What advantage does a wise person have over a fool? What advantage does a poor person have in knowing how to face life? 9It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind. Whatever has happened ⌞in the past⌟ already has a name. Mortals are already known for what they are. Mortals cannot argue with the one who is stronger than they. 11The more words there are, the more pointless they become. What advantage do mortals gain from this? 12Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:10 word by word

מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗ה כְּבָר֙ נִקְרָ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ וְנוֹדָ֖ע אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אָדָ֑ם וְלֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לָדִ֔ין עִ֥ם שֶׁתַּקִּ֖יף מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• That which hath been is namedשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• That which hath been is namedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• alreadyכְּבָרkebâr · alreadyH3528
• and it is knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• neither mayיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• he contendדִּיןdîyn dûn · to judgeH1777
• with him that is mightierתַּקִּיףtaqqîyph · mightyH8623

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:10

• Ecclesiastes 1:9Whatever has happened before will happen ⌞again⌟. Whatever has been done before will be done ⌞again⌟. There is nothing new under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 3:15Whatever has happened ⌞in the past⌟ is present now. Whatever is going to happen ⌞in the future⌟ has already happened ⌞in the past⌟. God will call the past to account.
• Genesis 3:9The Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
• Job 14:1“A person who is born of a woman is short-lived and is full of trouble.
• Psalms 39:6Each person who walks around is like a shadow. They are busy for no reason. They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”
• Psalms 82:6I said, “You are gods. You are all sons of the Most High.
• Psalms 103:15Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field.
• Job 9:3If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn’t be able to answer one question in a thousand.
• Job 33:13Why do you quarrel with him since he doesn’t answer any questions?
• Job 40:2“Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? Will the person who argues with God answer him?”
• Isaiah 45:9How horrible it will be for the one who quarrels with his maker. He is pottery among other earthenware pots. Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, “What are you making?” Does your work say to you, “There are no handles”?
• Jeremiah 49:19“I will suddenly chase them from their places like a lion coming out of the jungle along the Jordan River into pastureland. I will appoint over Edom whomever I choose. Who is like me? Who can challenge me? Is there any leader who can stand up to me?”
• Romans 9:19You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10That which hath been is named already - The Hebrew of this verse might be translated, "Who is he who is? His name has been already called. And it is known that he is Adam; and that he cannot contend in judgment with him who is stronger than he." "What is more excellent than man; yet can he not, in the lawe, get the victory of him that is mightier than he." - Coverdale. Adam is his name; and it at once points out, His dignity; he was made in the image of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Or, “That which has been named - i. e., events past or current, either Ecclesiastes 1:9 as they present themselves to man, or Ecclesiastes 3:15 as they are ordered by God - was long ago (i. e., was decreed, its nature and place were defined by the Almighty), and was known that it is man;” i. e., the course of events shapes the conduct and character of man, so that what he does and suffers is said to be or constitute the man. God from the beginning…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. 10Whatever exists was named long ago: See Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5, 11. it is known what man is: See Psalms 139:15–16. he cannot contend with one stronger than he: See Romans 9:20–24.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Part II begins here. Since man's toils are vain, what is the chief good? (Ec 6:12). The answer is contained in the rest of the book. That which hath been--man's various circumstances is named already--not only has existed, Ec 1:9; 3:15, but has received its just name, "vanity," long ago, and it is known that it--vanity is man--Hebrew, "Adam," equivalent to man "of red dust," as his Creator appropriately named him from his frailty. neither may he…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:10

• Death

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