Ecclesiastes 6:12

Ecclesiastes 6:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
• New International Version (NIV)For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
• English Standard Version (ESV)For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:12

10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with the one who is mightier than he is. 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person? For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 word by word

כִּ֣י מִֽי־יוֹדֵעַ֩ מַה־טּ֨וֹב לָֽאָדָ֜ם בַּֽחַיִּ֗ים מִסְפַּ֛ר יְמֵי־חַיֵּ֥י הֶבְל֖וֹ וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם כַּצֵּ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ מִֽי־יַגִּ֣יד לָֽאָדָ֔ם מַה־יִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָ֖יו תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• For whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
• knowsיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• is goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• for a personאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• the fewמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• yearsיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of his futileהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• spendעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• them like a shadowצֵלtsêl · shadowH6738
• can tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• will happenהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• him underתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
• the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:12

• Ecclesiastes 2:3I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
• Psalms 4:6Many are saying, “Who will show us anything good?” Lift up the light of Your face upon us, Lord!
• Psalms 16:5The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
• Psalms 47:4He chooses our inheritance for us, The pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
• Lamentations 3:24“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.”
• Micah 6:8He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
• Ecclesiastes 8:13But it will not go well for the evil person and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
• Ecclesiastes 9:6Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
• 1 Chronicles 29:15For we are strangers before You, and temporary residents, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.
• Job 8:9For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.
• Job 14:2Like a flower he comes out and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
• Psalms 39:5Behold, You have made my days like hand widths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Certainly all mankind standing is a mere breath. Selah
• Psalms 89:47Remember what my lifespan is; For what futility You have created all the sons of mankind!
• Psalms 90:10As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy; For it quickly passes, and we disappear.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life - Those things which we deem good are often evil. And those which we think evil are often good. So ignorant are we, that we run the greatest hazard in making a choice. It is better to leave ourselves and our concerns in the hands of the Lord, than to keep them in our own. For who can tell a man what shall be after him - Futurity is with God. While he lives, man wishes to know what is before him. When he is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12After him - i. e., On earth, in his own present sphere of action, after his departure hence (compare Ecclesiastes 2:19; Ecclesiastes 3:22).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. 12Who knows?... Who can tell?: These questions have already been answered. We should spend our days living wisely, enjoying our work, and appreciating God's gifts (Ecclesiastes 2:13–14, 24; 3:22; 5:18). What will happen on this earth has already happened (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10; 3:15). like a shadow: Compare Psalms 39:4–6; 90:3–6, 10–12; 109:23; 144:4.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. For who knoweth, &c.--The ungodly know not what is really "good" during life, nor "what shall be after them," that is, what will be the event of their undertakings (Ec 3:22; 8:7). The godly might be tempted to "contend with God" (Ec 6:10) as to His dispensations; but they cannot fully know the wise purposes served by them now and hereafter. Their sufferings from the oppressors are more really good for them than cloudless prosperity; sinners are being…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:12

• Ignorance
• Life
• Vanity
• 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