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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:11-22

Here, 1. Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are abundance of accidents that concur to make it more so; even that which pretends to increase the vanity and make it more vexatious. 2. He draws some inferences from it, which serve further to evince the truth of it. (1.) That a man is never the nearer to true... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity ,.... As appears by all that has been said in this and the preceding chapters; such as wisdom and knowledge, wealth and riches, pleasure, power, and authority. Man is a poor vain creature himself, all he is and has is vanity; and these serve but to increase it, and make him vainer and vainer still; what is man the better ? for these things? not at all, rather the worse, being more vain; there is no profit by them, no excellency arises to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life ?.... To be in a higher or lower station of life, to live in grandeur or meanness, to be rich or poor, learned or unlearned; since that which seems most agreeable to human nature is at, ended with so much vanity, the occasion of so much sin, and often issues in ruin and misery, that no man knows what is best for him; and therefore it is the wisest way to be content with what a man has, and enjoy it in the most comfortable manner, and use... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life - Those things which we deem good are often evil. And those which we think evil are often good. So ignorant are we, that we run the greatest hazard in making a choice. It is better to leave ourselves and our concerns in the hands of the Lord, than to keep them in our own. For who can tell a man what shall be after him - Futurity is with God. While he lives, man wishes to know what is before him. When he is about to die, he wishes to know... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

Section 11. All things are foreknown and foreordained by God ; it is useless to murmur against or to discuss this great fact ; and as the future is beyond our knowledge and control, it is wise to make the best of the present. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity . The noun rendered"things" ( dabar ) may equally mean "words;" and it is a question which signification is most appropriate here. The Septuagint has λόγοι πολλοί , "many words." So the Vulgate, verba sunt plurima . If we take the rendering of the Authorized Version, we must understand the passage to mean that the distractions of business, the cares of life, the constant disappointments, make men feel the hollowness and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:12

This verse in the Greek and Latin versions, as in some copies of the Hebrew, is divorced from its natural place, as the conclusion of the paragraph, Ecclesiastes 6:10 , Ecclesiastes 6:11 , and is arranged as the commencement of Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 . Plainly, the Divine prescience of Ecclesiastes 7:10 , Ecclesiastes 7:11 is closely connected with the question of man's ultimate good and his ignorance of the future, enunciated in this verse. For who knoweth what is good for man in this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:11

Things - Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preacher’s personal experience, and his observation of other people, ending with the comprehensive declaration in Ecclesiastes 6:10 to the effect that vanity is an essential part of the constitution of creation as it now exists, and was foreknown.What is man the better? - Rather, what is profitable to man? read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:12

After him - i. e., On earth, in his own present sphere of action, after his departure hence (compare Ecclesiastes 2:19; Ecclesiastes 3:22). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 6:11-12

Ecclesiastes 6:11-12. Seeing there be many things which increase vanity This seems to be added as a conclusion from all the foregoing chapters; seeing not only man is a vain creature in himself, but there are also many other things, which, instead of diminishing, do but increase this vanity, as wisdom, pleasure, power, wealth; seeing even the good things of this life bring so much toil, and cares, and fears with them; what is man the better By all that he can either desire or enjoy here? ... read more

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