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Ecclesiastes 11

BSB·10 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Castשַׁלַּ֥חšal·laḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → your breadלַחְמְךָ֖laḥ·mə·ḵā — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study → uponעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the watersהַמָּ֑יִםham·mā·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → after manyבְרֹ֥בḇə·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study → daysהַיָּמִ֖יםhay·yā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → you will find it again. 2Divideתֶּן־ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → your portionחֵ֥לֶקḥê·leq — portion, allotment, flatteryH2506 — Full Word Study → among sevenלְשִׁבְעָ֖הlə·šiḇ·‘āh — The number seven; sevenfoldH7651 — Full Word Study →, or evenוְגַ֣םwə·ḡam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → eightלִשְׁמוֹנָ֑הliš·mō·w·nāh — The number eight; eighth in sequenceH8083 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֚יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → you do notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → knowתֵדַ֔עṯê·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → disasterרָעָ֖הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → may befallיִּהְיֶ֥הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 3Ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → the cloudsהֶעָבִ֥יםhe·‘ā·ḇîm — Cloud, thick cloud, or cloud massH5645 — Full Word Study → are fullיִמָּלְא֨וּyim·mā·lə·’ū — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study →, they will pour outיָרִ֔יקוּyā·rî·qū — to empty, pour out, exhaustH7324 — Full Word Study → rainגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ge·šem — Rain; rainfall; shower of waterH1653 — Full Word Study → uponעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָ֣רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; whetherוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → a treeעֵ֛ץ‘êṣ — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → fallsיִפּ֥וֹלyip·pō·wl — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → to the southבַּדָּר֖וֹםbad·dā·rō·wm — South; the southern direction or regionH1864 — Full Word Study → orוְאִ֣םwə·’im — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → to the northבַּצָּפ֑וֹןbaṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn — North; northern direction or regionH6828 — Full Word Study →, in the placeמְק֛וֹםmə·qō·wm — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → where it fallsשֶׁיִּפּ֥וֹלše·yip·pō·wl — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study →, thereשָׁ֥םšām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → it will lieיְהֽוּא׃yə·hū — to exist, to be, to becomeH1933 — Full Word Study →. 4He who watchesשֹׁמֵ֥רšō·mêr — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → the windר֖וּחַrū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → will failלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to sowיִזְרָ֑עyiz·rā‘ — to sow seed; to plantH2232 — Full Word Study →, and he who observesוְרֹאֶ֥הwə·rō·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the cloudsבֶעָבִ֖יםḇe·‘ā·ḇîm — Cloud, thick cloud, or cloud massH5645 — Full Word Study → will failלֹ֥אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to reapיִקְצֽוֹר׃yiq·ṣō·wr — to cut short, harvest, or reapH7114 — Full Word Study →. 5Asכַּאֲשֶׁ֨רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → you do notאֵֽינְךָ֤’ê·nə·ḵā — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → knowיוֹדֵ֙עַ֙yō·w·ḏê·a‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → the pathדֶּ֣רֶךְde·reḵ — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → of the windהָר֔וּחַhā·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →, or how the bones are formed in a mother’sהַמְּלֵאָ֑הham·mə·lê·’āh — to fill, be full, fullnessH4392 — Full Word Study → wombבְּבֶ֣טֶןbə·ḇe·ṭen — belly; womb; interior of the bodyH990 — Full Word Study →, soכָּ֗כָהkā·ḵāh — Thus; in this manner; soH3602 — Full Word Study → you cannotלֹ֤אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → understandתֵדַע֙ṯê·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → the workמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma·‘ă·śêh — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the Makerיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → of all thingsהַכֹּֽל׃hak·kōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →. 6Sowזְרַ֣עzə·ra‘ — to sow seed; to plantH2232 — Full Word Study → your seedזַרְעֶ֔ךָzar·‘e·ḵā — Seed; offspring; descendant; progenyH2233 — Full Word Study → in the morningבַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙bab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study →, and do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → restתַּנַּ֣חtan·naḥ — To rest, cease, or remain in a state of quietnessH5117 — Full Word Study → your handsיָדֶ֑ךָyā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → in the eveningוְלָעֶ֖רֶבwə·lā·‘e·reḇ — Evening, the time of day when sun setsH6153 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי֩kî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → you do notאֵֽינְךָ֨’ê·nə·ḵā — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → knowיוֹדֵ֜עyō·ḏēʿ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → whichאֵ֣י’ê — Where? How? What?H335 — Full Word Study → will succeedיִכְשָׁר֙yiḵ·šār — to succeed, prosper, or make progressH3787 — Full Word Study →, whether thisהֲזֶ֣הhă·zeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → orאוֹ־’ōw- — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → thatזֶ֔הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study →, or ifוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֥םšə·nê·hem — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → will equallyכְּאֶחָ֖דkə·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → prosperטוֹבִֽים׃ṭō·w·ḇîm — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →. 7Lightהָא֑וֹרhā·’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study → is sweetוּמָת֖וֹקū·mā·ṯō·wq — sweet, pleasant to taste or experienceH4966 — Full Word Study →, and it pleasesוְט֥וֹבwə·ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → the eyesלַֽעֵינַ֖יִםla·‘ê·na·yim — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → to seeלִרְא֥וֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃haš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →. 8Soכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → a manהָאָדָ֖םhā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → livesיִחְיֶ֥הyiḥ·yeh — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study → manyהַרְבֵּ֛הhar·bêh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנִ֥יםšā·nîm — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study →, let him rejoiceיִשְׂמָ֑חyiś·māḥ — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → in them allבְּכֻלָּ֣םbə·ḵul·lām — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →. But let him rememberוְיִזְכֹּר֙wə·yiz·kōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → the daysיְמֵ֣יyə·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of darknessהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְha·ḥō·šeḵ — Darkness; absence of light; obscurityH2822 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they will beיִהְי֖וּyih·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → manyהַרְבֵּ֥הhar·bêh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study →. Everythingכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → to comeשֶׁבָּ֥אšeb·bā — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → is futileהָֽבֶל׃hā·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →. 9Rejoiceשְׂמַ֧חśə·maḥ — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study →, O young manבָּח֣וּרbā·ḥūr — Young man, youth, chosen oneH970 — Full Word Study →, while you are youngבְּיַלְדוּתֶ֗יךָbə·yal·ḏū·ṯe·ḵā — Youth, childhood, youthfulnessH3208 — Full Word Study →, and let your heartלִבְּךָ֙lib·bə·ḵā — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → be gladוִֽיטִֽיבְךָ֤wî·ṭî·ḇə·ḵā — to be good, to improve, to do wellH3190 — Full Word Study → in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbî·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of your youthבְחוּרוֹתֶ֔ךָḇə·ḥū·rō·w·ṯe·ḵā — Youth; young men; the state or time of being youngH979 — Full Word Study →. Walkוְהַלֵּךְ֙wə·hal·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → in the waysבְּדַרְכֵ֣יbə·ḏar·ḵê — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → of your heartלִבְּךָ֔lib·bə·ḵā — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → and in the sightוּבְמַרְאֵ֖יū·ḇə·mar·’ê — Appearance, sight, vision, or outward formH4758 — Full Word Study → of your eyesעֵינֶ֑יךָ‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →, but knowוְדָ֕עwə·ḏā‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֧יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → these things Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → will bring youיְבִֽיאֲךָ֥yə·ḇî·’ă·ḵā — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to judgmentבַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃bam·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →. 10So banishוְהָסֵ֥רwə·hā·sêr — to turn aside, depart, removeH5493 — Full Word Study → sorrowכַּ֙עַס֙ka·‘as — Vexation, provocation, or irritation that stirs angerH3708 — Full Word Study → from your heartמִלִּבֶּ֔ךָmil·lib·be·ḵā — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, and cast offוְהַעֲבֵ֥רwə·ha·‘ă·ḇêr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → painרָעָ֖הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → from your bodyמִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָmib·bə·śā·re·ḵā — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → youthהַיַּלְד֥וּתhay·yal·ḏūṯ — Youth, childhood, youthfulnessH3208 — Full Word Study → and vigorוְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּתwə·haš·ša·ḥă·rūṯ — youth, youthful vigor, dark hair of youthH7839 — Full Word Study → are fleetingהָֽבֶל׃hā·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Ecclesiastes 11
Chapter Overview

Overview of Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11 transitions from the Teacher's relentless exposure of life's vanity toward practical wisdom for living well under the sun. The chapter addresses the tension between human uncertainty and divine sovereignty, urging believers to act generously and faithfully despite not knowing the future. Rather than paralyzing us with anxiety, our ignorance should humble us and drive us to work diligently, give liberally, and live joyfully—while always remembering that God will hold us accountable for our choices.

Verses 1-3: Generosity in Uncertainty

The opening metaphor—"cast thy bread upon the waters"—speaks to generous giving without guarantee of return. This is not a promise of financial investment; it is an appeal to trust God while caring for others. The Teacher says we cannot predict what calamity or blessing will come, so we should distribute our resources widely ("to seven, and also to eight") to strengthen our community against future hardship.

Verses 2-3 reinforce this theme: we do not know what evil shall come upon the earth, just as we cannot control whether clouds will rain or how a fallen tree will lie. The point is not fatalism but humility. Because the future is God's domain, not ours, we should act with open hands and generous hearts rather than clinging anxiously to our possessions. This wisdom prepares us for uncertainty by building relational and social resilience.

Application: Generous giving is not a luxury for the wealthy but a duty for all believers who trust God's provision. When we give to others, we acknowledge that all we have comes from His hand.

Verses 4-6: Faith-Filled Action

Here the Teacher shifts from giving to working. "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap" means that excessive caution—waiting for perfect conditions—leads to paralysis. The farmer who studies the weather endlessly will never plant; the one who watches for ideal circumstances will never harvest.

Verse 5 is crucial: we do not understand how the spirit moves or how a child grows in the womb, so we should not pretend to understand God's workings. This confession of mystery is not an excuse for passivity but the foundation for faithful action. Because we cannot fully comprehend God's ways, we should trust Him while working diligently.

Verse 6 concludes this section with practical counsel: sow in the morning, and do not hold back your hand in the evening. Work consistently and broadly because you do not know which effort will succeed. This is the opposite of reckless speculation; it is steady, diversified labor undertaken in faith.

Application: Perfectionism and endless planning can mask spiritual cowardice. Faith calls us to obey God's plain commands—work, give, serve—while leaving outcomes to Him.

Verses 7-10: Remembering Life's Brevity

The Teacher celebrates the sweetness of light and the beauty of the sun (verse 7), affirming that life itself is a gift to enjoy. Yet verse 8 sobers us: the days of darkness—aging, loss, death—will be many, and all that comes is vanity. Youth should rejoice, but not in careless abandon; verse 9 insists that our joyful living must be governed by the knowledge that God will bring us into judgment.

Verse 10 calls young people to remove sorrow and evil from their lives, not through grim self-denial but through wisdom. Childhood and youth are fleeting ("vanity"), so invest them in what matters eternally—righteousness, obedience, and fear of God—rather than hollow pleasures.

Application: Youth is a gift to be enjoyed, but always with eternity in view. A young person who delights in God's creation while fearing His judgment will live with purpose and joy.

Application for Today

Ecclesiastes 11 calls modern believers to strike a biblical balance: work diligently and give generously despite uncertainty; enjoy life's blessings gratefully; and live always conscious of God's judgment. We are neither paralyzed pessimists waiting for perfect circumstances nor reckless optimists ignoring accountability. We are humble servants who act faithfully, trust God completely, and remember that all our days—our labors, our joys, our choices—will be revealed before His throne.

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