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

10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 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?

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

• 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 sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• Psalms 4:6There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Yhwh, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
• Psalms 16:5Yhwh is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
• Psalms 47:4He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
• Lamentations 3:24Yhwh is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
• Micah 6:8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Yhwh require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
• Ecclesiastes 8:13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
• Ecclesiastes 9:6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
• 1 Chronicles 29:15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
• Job 8:9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
• Job 14:2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
• Psalms 39:5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
• Psalms 89:47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
• Psalms 90:10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour 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

• 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