Ecclesiastes 11:5

Ecclesiastes 11:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
• New International Version (NIV)As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

Context of Ecclesiastes 11:5

3If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. Just as you do not know the path of the wind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything. 6Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. 7The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 word by word

כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽינְךָ֤ יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ מַה־דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָר֔וּחַ כַּעֲצָמִ֖ים בְּבֶ֣טֶן הַמְּלֵאָ֑ה כָּ֗כָה לֹ֤א תֵדַע֙ אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל׃Read the interlinear

• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the pathדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• windרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• how bonesעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106
• in the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
• pregnantמָלֵאmâlê' · fullH4392
• soכָּ֫כָהkâkâh · thusH3602
• the activityמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• makesעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• everythingכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:5

• John 3:8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
• Psalms 139:14I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
• Ecclesiastes 7:24What has been is remote and very mysterious. Who can discover it?
• Ecclesiastes 8:17and I saw every work of God, I concluded that one cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though a person laboriously seeks, he will not discover; and even if the wise person claims to know, he cannot discover.
• Job 5:9Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.
• Job 26:5“The departed spirits are made to tremble Under the waters and their inhabitants.
• Job 36:24“Remember that you are to exalt His work, Of which people have sung.
• Job 37:23The Almighty--we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness.
• Job 38:4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,
• Job 39:1“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?
• Psalms 40:5Many, Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is no one to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.
• Psalms 92:5How great are Your works, Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
• Psalms 104:24Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.
• Isaiah 40:28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable.
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5As thou knowest not - the way of the spirit - Why God should have permitted such an such persons to fall into want, and how they came into all their distresses, thou canst not tell, no more than thou canst how their soul is united to their body, how it came to inform that body, or how the child was formed in the womb of its mother. Nor canst thou discern the end which God has in view in these things. He maketh all, every thing is open to him; and take…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-6Verses 3-6 “Unforeseen events come from God; and the man who is always gazing on the uncertain future will neither begin nor complete any useful work: but do thou bear in mind that times and circumstances, the powers of nature and the results to which they minister, are in the hand of God; and be both diligent and trustful.” The images are connected chiefly with the occupation of an agricultural laborer: the discharge of rain from the cloud, and the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5God's actions are often unpredictable and mysterious. Our task is to work whenever we have the chance (see Proverbs 12:11; 24:27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. spirit--How the soul animates the body! Thus the transition to the formation of the body "in the womb" is more natural, than if with Maurer we translate it "wind" (Ec 1:6; Joh 3:8). bones ... grow--(Job 10:8, 9; Psa 139:15, 16). knowest not the works of God--(Ec 3:11; 8:17; 9:12).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:5

• Economics
• God
• Ignorance

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Childhood
• Empty
• Regard
• Remove
• Wisdom

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11

• 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