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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:11

9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. 10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a 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

• For thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• are manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• futilityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• Whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• is the advantageיוֹתֵרyôthêr · advantageH3148
• to a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Ecclesiastes 1:6Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
• Ecclesiastes 5:7For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.
• Psalms 73:6Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.
• Hosea 12:1Ephraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes 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