New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6:12
12For 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?
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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?
Context of Ecclesiastes 6:12
10Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger. 11The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 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?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 6Ecclesiastes 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 tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
- Psalms 4:6Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us.
- Psalms 16:5Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
- Psalms 17:15As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
- Psalms 47:4He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
- Lamentations 3:24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
- Micah 6:8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:13Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
- Ecclesiastes 9:6Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
- 1 Chronicles 29:15We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
- Job 8:9for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
- Job 14:2They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
- Psalms 39:5You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.
- Psalms 89:47Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity!
- Psalms 90:10Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, 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
In the dictionaries
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
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