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 stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed – whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally. 7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun. So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many – all that is about to come is obscure. 9Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. 10Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But if a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• in them all; yet let him rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• All that comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:8

• Ecclesiastes 6:6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,
• Ecclesiastes 5:18I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
• Deuteronomy 32:29I wish that they were wise and could understand this, and that they could comprehend what will happen to them.”
• Job 10:22to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”
• Job 14:10But man dies and is powerless; he expires – and where is he?
• Job 15:23he wanders about – food for vultures; he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.
• Job 18:18He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world.
• Jeremiah 13:16Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
• Joel 2:2It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army – there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come!
• Matthew 22:13Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’
• John 12:35Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. 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