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Ecclesiastes 6

Eccl. 6:12 KJV (With Strong’s)

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For whoq knoweth
yada` (Hebrew #3045)
to 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.) (as follow)
KJV usage: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot.
Pronounce: yaw-dah'
Origin: a primitive root
what is good
towb (Hebrew #2896)
good (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)
KJV usage: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ((-favoured)).
Pronounce: tobe
Origin: from 2895
for man
'adam (Hebrew #120)
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
KJV usage: X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
Pronounce: aw-dawm'
Origin: from 119
in this life
chay (Hebrew #2416)
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
KJV usage: + age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
Pronounce: khah'-ee
Origin: from 2421
, ζall
micpar (Hebrew #4557)
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
KJV usage: + abundance, account, X all, X few, (in-)finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, + time.
Pronounce: mis-pawr'
Origin: from 5608
the days
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
of his vain
hebel (Hebrew #1892)
from 1891; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
KJV usage: X altogether, vain, vanity.
Pronounce: heh'bel
Origin: or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}
life
chay (Hebrew #2416)
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
KJV usage: + age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
Pronounce: khah'-ee
Origin: from 2421
which he spendeth
`asah (Hebrew #6213)
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows)
KJV usage: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Pronounce: aw-saw'
Origin: a primitive root
as a shadow
tsel (Hebrew #6738)
shade, whether literal or figurative
KJV usage: defence, shade(-ow).
Pronounce: tsale
Origin: from 6751
r? for who can tell
nagad (Hebrew #5046)
properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
KJV usage: bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
Pronounce: naw-gad'
Origin: a primitive root
a man
'adam (Hebrew #120)
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
KJV usage: X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
Pronounce: aw-dawm'
Origin: from 119
what shall be after
'achar (Hebrew #310)
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
KJV usage: after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
Pronounce: akh-ar'
Origin: from 309
him under the sun
shemesh (Hebrew #8121)
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a notched battlement
KJV usage: + east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), + west(-ward), window. See also 1053.
Pronounce: sheh'-mesh
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be brilliant
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q
Psa. 47:4• 4He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. (Psa. 47:4)
ζ
the number of the days of the life of his vanity.
r
Psa. 102:11• 11My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass. (Psa. 102:11)
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James 4:14• 14ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, ( for what is your life? It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,) (James 4:14)

More on:

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Life,
Sun

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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who knoweth.
Eccl. 2:3• 3I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life. (Eccl. 2:3)
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Eccl. 12:13• 13Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
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Psa. 4:6• 6Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah. (Psa. 4:6)
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Psa. 16:5• 5Jehovah is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. (Psa. 16:5)
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Psa. 17:15• 15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psa. 17:15)
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Psa. 47:4• 4He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. (Psa. 47:4)
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Lam. 3:24‑27• 24Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
 25Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
 26It is good that one should both wait, and that in silence, for the salvation of Jehovah.
 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth: (Lam. 3:24‑27)
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Mic. 6:8• 8He hath shewn thee, O man, what is good: and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Mic. 6:8)
the days of his vain life.
Heb. the number of the days ofthe life of his vanity.
Eccl. 8:13• 13but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days as a shadow, because he feareth not before God. (Eccl. 8:13)
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Eccl. 9:6• 6Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy is already perished; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun. (Eccl. 9:6)
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1 Chron. 29:15• 15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no hope of life. (1 Chron. 29:15)
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Job 8:9• 9For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow. (Job 8:9)
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Job 14:2• 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not. (Job 14:2)
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Psa. 39:5‑6• 5Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah.
 6Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. (Psa. 39:5‑6)
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Psa. 89:47• 47Remember, as regards me, what life is. Wherefore hast thou created all the children of men to be vanity? (Psa. 89:47)
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Psa. 90:10‑12• 10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
 11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? and thy wrath according to the fear of thee?
 12So teach us to number our days, that we may acquire a wise heart. (Psa. 90:10‑12)
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Psa. 102:11• 11My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass. (Psa. 102:11)
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Psa. 109:23• 23I am gone like a shadow when it lengtheneth; I am tossed about like the locust; (Psa. 109:23)
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Psa. 144:4• 4Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away. (Psa. 144:4)
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James 4:14• 14ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, ( for what is your life? It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,) (James 4:14)
for who can.
Eccl. 3:22• 22And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? (Eccl. 3:22)
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Eccl. 8:7• 7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be? (Eccl. 8:7)
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Job 14:21• 21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not. (Job 14:21)
• Then the last sad wail of this subject: “Who knoweth what is really good―satisfying for man―during the few fleeting years of his vain life here, which he passes as a shadow; and when he is gone, who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun”? (“Ecclesiastes 6” by F.C. Jennings)
• Solomon in all his glory had no throne to be compared to hers, as she sat lowly “at His feet.” And mark carefully, for thy soul’s good, that word of tender grace that the Lord said, This is “needful.” He who had listened to the groan of man’s heart through those long four thousand years, and knew its need fully and exactly, says that this good portion must not be regarded as any high attainment for the few, but as the very breath of life―for all. (“Ecclesiastes 6” by F.C. Jennings)

J. N. Darby Translation

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For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?