Revised Literal Translation
Ecclesiastes 11:5
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
- New International Version (NIV)As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Context of Ecclesiastes 11:5
3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Read all of Ecclesiastes 11Ecclesiastes 11:5 word by word
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽינְךָ֤ יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ מַה־דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָר֔וּחַ כַּעֲצָמִ֖ים בְּבֶ֣טֶן הַמְּלֵאָ֑ה כָּ֗כָה לֹ֤א תֵדַע֙ אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל׃Read the interlinear
- As thou knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- of the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- how the bonesעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106
- in the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
- of her that is with childמָלֵאmâlê' · fullH4392
- not the worksמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- who makethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 11:5
- John 3:8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
- Psalms 139:14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
- Ecclesiastes 7:24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
- Ecclesiastes 8:17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
- Job 5:9Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
- Job 26:5Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
- Job 36:24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
- Job 37:23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
- Job 38:4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
- Job 39:1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
- Psalms 40:5Many, O Yhwh my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
- Psalms 92:5O Yhwh, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
- Psalms 104:24O Yhwh, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
- Isaiah 40:28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, Yhwh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
- Romans 11:33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5As thou knowest not - the way of the spirit - Why God should have permitted such an such persons to fall into want, and how they came into all their distresses, thou canst not tell, no more than thou canst how their soul is united to their body, how it came to inform that body, or how the child was formed in the womb of its mother. Nor canst thou discern the end which God has in view in these things. He maketh all, every thing is open to him; and take…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-6Verses 3-6 “Unforeseen events come from God; and the man who is always gazing on the uncertain future will neither begin nor complete any useful work: but do thou bear in mind that times and circumstances, the powers of nature and the results to which they minister, are in the hand of God; and be both diligent and trustful.” The images are connected chiefly with the occupation of an agricultural laborer: the discharge of rain from the cloud, and the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5God's actions are often unpredictable and mysterious. Our task is to work whenever we have the chance (see Proverbs 12:11; 24:27).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. spirit--How the soul animates the body! Thus the transition to the formation of the body "in the womb" is more natural, than if with Maurer we translate it "wind" (Ec 1:6; Joh 3:8). bones ... grow--(Job 10:8, 9; Psa 139:15, 16). knowest not the works of God--(Ec 3:11; 8:17; 9:12).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:5
In the dictionaries
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries