5 As thou knowest H3045 not what is the way H1870 of the spirit, H7307 nor how the bones H6106 do grow in the womb H990 of her that is with child: H4392 even so thou knowest H3045 not the works H4639 of God H430 who maketh H6213 all.
The wind G4151 bloweth G4154 where G3699 it listeth, G2309 and G2532 thou hearest G191 the sound G5456 thereof, G846 but G235 canst G1492 not G3756 tell G1492 whence G4159 it cometh, G2064 and G2532 whither G4226 it goeth: G5217 so G3779 is G2076 every one G3956 that is born G1080 of G1537 the Spirit. G4151
Then I beheld H7200 all the work H4639 of God, H430 that a man H120 cannot H3201 find out H4672 the work H4639 that is done H6213 under the sun: H8121 because H834 though H7945 a man H120 labour H5998 to seek it out, H1245 yet he shall not find H4672 it; yea further; though a wise H2450 man think H559 to know H3045 it, yet shall he not be able H3201 to find H4672 it.
Which doeth H6213 great things H1419 and unsearchable; H369 H2714 marvellous things H6381 without number: H4557
Dead H7496 things are formed H2342 from under the waters, H4325 and the inhabitants H7931 thereof. Hell H7585 is naked H6174 before him, and destruction H11 hath no covering. H3682 He stretcheth out H5186 the north H6828 over the empty place, H8414 and hangeth H8518 the earth H776 upon nothing. H1099 He bindeth up H6887 the waters H4325 in his thick clouds; H5645 and the cloud H6051 is not rent H1234 under them. He holdeth back H270 the face H6440 of his throne, H3678 and spreadeth H6576 his cloud H6051 upon it. He hath compassed H2328 the waters H6440 H4325 with bounds, H2706 until the day H216 and night H2822 come to an end. H8503 The pillars H5982 of heaven H8064 tremble H7322 and are astonished H8539 at his reproof. H1606 He divideth H7280 the sea H3220 with his power, H3581 and by his understanding H8394 H8394 he smiteth H4272 through the proud. H7293 By his spirit H7307 he hath garnished H8235 the heavens; H8064 his hand H3027 hath formed H2342 the crooked H1281 serpent. H5175 Lo, these are parts H7098 of his ways: H1870 but how little H8102 a portion H1697 is heard H8085 of him? but the thunder H7482 of his power H1369 who can understand? H995
Remember H2142 that thou magnify H7679 his work, H6467 which men H582 behold. H7891 Every man H120 may see H2372 it; man H582 may behold H5027 it afar off. H7350 Behold, God H410 is great, H7689 and we know H3045 him not, neither can the number H4557 of his years H8141 be searched out. H2714 For he maketh small H1639 the drops H5198 of water: H4325 they pour down H2212 rain H4306 according to the vapour H108 thereof: Which the clouds H7834 do drop H5140 and distil H7491 upon man H120 abundantly. H7227 Also can any understand H995 the spreadings H4666 of the clouds, H5645 or the noise H8663 of his tabernacle? H5521 Behold, he spreadeth H6566 his light H216 upon it, and covereth H3680 the bottom H8328 of the sea. H3220 For by them judgeth H1777 he the people; H5971 he giveth H5414 meat H400 in abundance. H4342 With clouds H3709 he covereth H3680 the light; H216 and commandeth H6680 it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. H6293 The noise H7452 thereof sheweth H5046 concerning it, the cattle H4735 also concerning the vapour. H5927
Touching the Almighty, H7706 we cannot find him out: H4672 he is excellent H7689 in power, H3581 and in judgment, H4941 and in plenty H7230 of justice: H6666 he will not afflict. H6031
Many, H7227 O LORD H3068 my God, H430 are thy wonderful H6381 works which thou hast done, H6213 and thy thoughts H4284 which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order H6186 unto thee: if I would declare H5046 and speak H1696 of them, they are more H6105 than can be numbered. H5608
For thou hast possessed H7069 my reins: H3629 thou hast covered H5526 me in my mother's H517 womb. H990 I will praise H3034 thee; for I am fearfully H3372 and wonderfully made: H6395 marvellous H6381 are thy works; H4639 and that my soul H5315 knoweth H3045 right well. H3966 My substance H6108 was not hid H3582 from thee, when I was made H6213 in secret, H5643 and curiously wrought H7551 in the lowest parts H8482 of the earth. H776 Thine eyes H5869 did see H7200 my substance, yet being unperfect; H1564 and in thy book H5612 all my members were written, H3789 which in continuance H3117 were fashioned, H3335 when as yet there was none H259 of them.
That which is far off, H7350 and exceeding deep, H6013 who can find it out? H4672
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ec 11:1-10.
1. Ec 11:2 shows that charity is here inculcated.
bread—bread corn. As in the Lord's prayer, all things needful for the body and soul. Solomon reverts to the sentiment (Ec 9:10).
waters—image from the custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into the overflowing waters of the Nile, or in any marshy ground. When the waters receded, the grain in the alluvial soil sprang up (Isa 32:20). "Waters" express multitudes, so Ec 11:2; Re 17:15; also the seemingly hopeless character of the recipients of the charity; but it shall prove at last to have been not thrown away (Isa 49:4).
2. portion—of thy bread.
seven—the perfect number.
eight—even to more than seven; that is, "to many" (so "waters," Ec 11:1), nay, even to very many in need (Job 5:19; Mic 5:5).
evil—The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (Lu 16:9). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.
3. clouds—answering to "evil" (Ec 11:2), meaning, When the times of evil are fully ripe, evil must come; and speculations about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality, are vain (Ec 11:4).
tree—Once the storm uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven, once that death overtakes him (Re 22:11, 14, 15). Now is his time for liberality, before the evil days come (Ec 12:1).
4. Therefore sow thy charity in faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they may not seem promising (Ec 9:10). So in Ec 11:1, man is told to "cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters" (Ps 126:5, 6). The farmer would get on badly, who, instead of sowing and reaping, spent his time in watching the wind and clouds.
5. 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; Ps 139:15, 16).
knowest not the works of God—(Ec 3:11; 8:17; 9:12).
6. morning … evening—early and late; when young and when old; in sunshine and under clouds.
seed—of godly works (Ho 10:12; 2Co 9:10; Ga 6:7).
prosper—(Isa 55:10, 11).
both … alike—Both the unpromising and the promising sowing may bear good fruit in others; certainly they shall to the faithful sower.
7. light—of life (Ec 7:11; Ps 49:19). Life is enjoyable, especially to the godly.
8. But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (Job 10:21, 22; Ps 88:12), also days of "evil" in this world (Ec 11:2), are coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last, which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties.
All that cometh—that is, All that followeth in the evil and dark days is vain, as far as work for God is concerned (Ec 9:10).
9. Rejoice—not advice, but warning. So 1Ki 22:15, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ec 2:2; 7:2, not moderately, as in Ec 5:18), &c., then "know that … God will bring thee into judgment" (Ec 3:17; 12:14).
youth … youth—distinct Hebrew words, adolescence or boyhood (before Ec 11:10), and full-grown youth. It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely more (Lu 14:28).
10. sorrow—that is, the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ec 11:9), Margin, "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," &c., is thus opposed to "walk in," &c. (Ec 11:9).
flesh—the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts.
childhood—rather, "boyhood"; the same Hebrew word as the first, "youth" in Ec 11:9. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given to God (Ec 12:1).
youth—literally, the dawn of thy days.