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 has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is. 11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? For no one knows what is best for a person during his life – during the few days of his fleeting life – for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• For who knowethיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• for manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
• allמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of his vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• which he spendethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• as a shadowצֵלtsêl · shadowH6738
• for who can tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• what shall be afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• him under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:12

• Ecclesiastes 2:3I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
• Psalms 4:6Many say, “Who can show us anything good?” Smile upon us, Lord!
• Psalms 16:5Lord, you give me stability and prosperity; you make my future secure.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
• Psalms 47:4He picked out for us a special land to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. (Selah)
• Lamentations 3:24“My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him. ט (Tet)
• Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God.
• Ecclesiastes 8:13But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.
• Ecclesiastes 9:6What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.
• 1 Chronicles 29:15For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security.
• Job 8:9For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.
• Job 14:2He grows up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.
• Psalms 39:5Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.
• Psalms 89:47Take note of my brief lifespan! Why do you make all people so mortal?
• Psalms 90:10The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.

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