Ecclesiastes 11:8

Ecclesiastes 11:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
• New International Version (NIV)However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.

Context of Ecclesiastes 11:8

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. Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility. 9Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 word by word

כִּ֣י אִם־שָׁנִ֥ים הַרְבֵּ֛ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם בְּכֻלָּ֣ם יִשְׂמָ֑ח וְיִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ כִּֽי־הַרְבֵּ֥ה יִהְי֖וּ כָּל־שֶׁבָּ֥א הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear

• Indeedכִּיkîy · forH3588
• if[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518
• a personאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• in them allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• but let him rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• that is to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• futilityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Ecclesiastes 6:6Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things--do not all go to one and the same place?”
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be joyful, and this will stand by him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14On the day of prosperity be happy, But on the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other So that a person will not discover anything that will come after him.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
• Deuteronomy 32:29If only they were wise and they understood this; If only they would discern their future!
• Job 10:22The land of utter gloom like darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And it shines like darkness.”
• Job 14:10But a man dies and lies prostrate. A person passes away, and where is he?
• Job 15:23He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.
• Job 18:18He is driven from light into darkness, And chased from the inhabited world.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the mountains in the dark, And while you are hoping for light He makes it into gloom, And turns it into thick darkness.
• Joel 2:2A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.
• Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’
• John 12:35So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8If a man live many years - And even have prosperity through the whole; yet the days of darkness - times of affliction, weakness, and perhaps old age, will be many. If he die not a violent death, which no man can wish, he will die a lingering death; and this is ordinarily attended with many pains, and many sorrows; therefore let him prepare to meet his God; and to carry this thought through life, that all must terminate in death. The writer of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecclesiastes 11:7 The light … the sun - Gifts of God which cheer man‘s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecclesiastes 11:8 Days of darkness - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give loose to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (Job 10:21, 22; Psa 88:12), also days of "evil" in this world (Ec 11:2), are coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last, which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties. All that cometh--that is, All that followeth in the evil and dark days is vain, as far as work for God is concerned…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Death
• Joy

In the dictionaries

• Childhood
• Empty
• Regard
• Remove
• Dark; Darkness

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