Ecclesiastes 6:11

Ecclesiastes 6:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
• New International Version (NIV)The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?
• English Standard Version (ESV)The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:11

9Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. 10Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they? 12In 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?

Ecclesiastes 6:11 word by word

כִּ֛י יֵשׁ־דְּבָרִ֥ים הַרְבֵּ֖ה מַרְבִּ֣ים הָ֑בֶל מַה־יֹּתֵ֖ר לָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Seeing there beיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• the betterיוֹתֵרyôthêr · advantageH3148

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Ecclesiastes 1:6The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.
• Ecclesiastes 5:7Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
• Psalms 73:6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
• Hosea 12:1The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They pile up lies and violence; they are making an alliance with Assyria while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Things - Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preacher‘s personal experience, and his observation of other people, ending with the comprehensive declaration in Ecclesiastes 6:10 to the effect that vanity is an essential part of the constitution of creation as it now exists, and was foreknown. What is man the better? - Rather, what is profitable to man?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. 11For the more words, the more futility: Compare with Proverbs 10:19 and Proverbs 17:28.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. "Seeing" that man cannot escape from the "vanity," which by God's "mighty" will is inherent in earthly things, and cannot call in question God's wisdom in these dispensations (equivalent to "contend," &c.), what is man the better--of these vain things as regards the chief good? None whatever.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 6:11

• Ignorance
• 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