Bible/Ecclesiastes/11

Ecclesiastes 11:6

11:5 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.
In 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. shall prosper: Heb. shall be right

KJV

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In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

In 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.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. ¶

11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

What does Ecclesiastes 11:6 mean?

Ecclesiastes 11:6 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בֹּקֶר (bôqer), זָרַע (zâraʻ), זֶרַע (zeraʻ). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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In
the
morningבֹּקֶרbôqer/bo'-ker/H1242properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
sowזָרַעzâraʻ/zaw-rah'/H2232to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
thy
seed,זֶרַעzeraʻ/zeh'-rah/H2233seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
and
in
the
eveningעֶרֶבʻereb/eh'-reb/H6153dusk
withholdיָנַחyânach/yaw-nakh'/H3240to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay
not
thine
hand:יָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
for
thou
knowestיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
not
whetherאַיʼay/ah'ee/H335where? hence how?
shall
prosper,כָּשֵׁרkâshêr/kaw-share'/H3787by implication, to be acceptable; also to succeed or prosper
either
this
or
that,
or
whether
they
bothשְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/H8147two; also (as ordinal) twofold
shall
be
alikeאֶחָדʼechâd/ekh-awd'/H259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
good.טוֹבṭôwb/tobe/H2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
shall
prosper:
Heb.
shall
be
right

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11:6

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 11:5–7
That those who have chosen the way of truth must have a constant regard to the word of God as the rule of their walking: Thy judgments have I laid before me, as he who learns to write lays his copy before him, that he may write according to it, as the workman lays his model and platform before him, that he may do his work exactly. As we must have the word in our heart by an habitual conformity to it, so we must have it in our eye by an actual regard to it upon all occasions, that we may walk accurately and by rule. III. That those who make religion their choice and rule are likely to adhere to it faithfully: " I have stuck to thy testimonies with unchanged affection and an unshaken resolution, stuck to them at all times, through all trials. I have chosen them, and therefore I have stuck to them." Note, The choosing Christian is likely to be the steady Christian; while those that are Christians by chance tack about if the wind turn. IV. That those who stick to the word of God may in faith expect and pray for acceptance with God; for David means this when he begs, " Lord, put me not to shame; that is, never leave me to do that by which I shall shame myself, and do thou not reject my services, which will put me to the greatest confusion." V. That the more comfort God gives us the more duty he expects from us, v. 32 . Here we have, 1. His resolution to go on vigorously in religion: I will run the way of thy commandments. Those that are going to heaven should make haste thither and be still pressing forward. It concerns us to redeem time and take pains, and to go on in our business with cheerfulness. We then run the way of our duty, when we are ready to it, and pleasant in it, and lay aside every weight, Heb. xii. 1 . 2. His dependence upon God for grace to do so: "I shall then abound in thy work, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. " God, by his Spirit, enlarges the hearts of his people when he gives them wisdom (for that is called largeness of heart, 1 Kings iv. 29 ), when he sheds abroad the love of God in the heart, and puts gladness there. The joy of our Lord should be wheels to our obedience. 5. HE. 33 Teach me, O Lord , the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Here, I. David prays earnestly that God himself would be his teacher; he had prophets, and wise men, and priests, about him, and was himself well instructed in the law of God, yet he begs to be taught of God, as knowing that none teaches like him, Job xxxvi. 22 . Observe here, 1. What he desires to be taught, not the notions or language of God's statutes, but the way of them—"the way of applying them to myself and governing myself by them; teach me the way of my duty which thy statutes prescribe, and in every doubtful case let me know what thou wouldst have me to do, le

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Isaiah 54:13

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Matthew 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 6:45

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

1 Corinthians 1:7

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: coming: Gr. revelation

1 Corinthians 1:8

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: perform: or, finish

1 John 2:19

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

1 John 2:20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. in him: or, in it

Revelation 2:26

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Topics

Agriculture or HusbandryEconomicsMorningSeed

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 11:6.

Exodus 16:13

And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.

Exodus 16:23

And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

Exodus 16:24

And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

Exodus 16:8

And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

Exodus 18:13

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

Exodus 18:14

And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

Genesis 1:11

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. grass: Heb. tender grass

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 11:6 say?

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (King James Version) reads: "In 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. shall prosper: Heb. shall be right"

Is Ecclesiastes 11:6 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 11:6 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 11:6, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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