New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 6:12
12For 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?
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 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 one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. 11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? 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?
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 searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
- Psalms 4:6There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
- Psalms 16:5O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
- Psalms 17:15As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
- Psalms 47:4He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
- Lamentations 3:24“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
- Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
- Ecclesiastes 8:13But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
- Ecclesiastes 9:6Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
- 1 Chronicles 29:15For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.
- Job 8:9For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.
- Job 14:2He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
- Psalms 39:5Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
- Psalms 89:47Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men?
- Psalms 90:10The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries