Bible/Ecclesiastes/11

Ecclesiastes 11:7

11:6 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
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

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Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.

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

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

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.

What does Ecclesiastes 11:7 mean?

Ecclesiastes 11:7 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אוֹר (ʼôwr), מָתוֹק (mâthôwq), טוֹב (ṭôwb). It connects to 13 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Truly
the
lightאוֹרʼôwr/ore/H216illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
is
sweet,מָתוֹקmâthôwq/maw-thoke'/H4966sweet
and
a
pleasantטוֹבṭôwb/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)
thing
it
is
for
the
eyesעַיִןʻayin/ah'-yin/H5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
to
beholdרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
the
sun:שֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11:7

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.

Deuteronomy 4:6

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Job 28:28

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 2:5

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:6

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. sorrow: or, anger

Matthew 5:19

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:24

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. deed: or, doing

James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

James 3:13

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

James 4:11

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Topics

DeathSun, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 11:7.

Genesis 1:18

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. the light from: Heb. between the light and between the darkness

Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire

2 Samuel 23:4

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Genesis 1:10

And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

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.

Genesis 1:21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 11:7 say?

Ecclesiastes 11:7 (King James Version) reads: "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:"

Is Ecclesiastes 11:7 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 11:7 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 11:7, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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