Ecclesiastes 3:10-17 NASB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:1-10

The scope of these verses is to show, 1. That we live in a world of changes, that the several events of time, and conditions of human life, are vastly different from one another, and yet occur promiscuously, and we are continually passing and repassing between them, as in the revolutions of every day and every year. In the wheel of nature (Jas. 3:6) sometimes one spoke is uppermost and by and by the contrary; there is a constant ebbing and flowing, waxing and waning; from one extreme to the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

We have seen what changes there are in the world, and must not expect to find the world more sure to us than it has been to others. Now here Solomon shows the hand of God in all those changes; it is he that has made every creature to be that to us which it is, and therefore we must have our eye always upon him. I. We must make the best of that which is, and must believe it best for the present, and accommodate ourselves to it: He has made every thing beautiful in his time (Eccl. 3:11), and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Solomon is still showing that every thing in this world, without piety and the fear of God, is vanity. Take away religion, and there is nothing valuable among men, nothing for the sake of which a wise man would think it worth while to live in this world. In these verses he shows that power (than which there is nothing men are more ambitious of) and life itself (than which there is nothing men are more fond, more jealous of) are nothing without the fear of God. I. Here is the vanity of man as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men ,.... The pains and trouble they are at to get a little wisdom and knowledge, Ecclesiastes 1:13 ; and so to obtain riches and honour, peace and plenty, which sometimes they do obtain, and sometimes not; and when they do, do not keep them long, for there is a time for everything. This the wise man had observed, in a variety of instances; and he considered the end of God in it, which was for men to be exercised in it , or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:11

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time ,.... That is, God has made everything; as all things in creation are made by him, for his pleasure and glory, and all well and wisely, there is a beauty in them all: so all things in providence; he upholds all things; he governs and orders all things according to the counsel of his will; some things are done immediately by him, others by instruments, and some are only permitted by him; some he does himself, some he wills to be done by others,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:12

I know that there is no good in them ,.... In these things; as the Arabic version; in the creatures, as Jarchi; in all sublunary enjoyments; in everything the wise man had made a trial of before, as natural Wisdom and knowledge, worldly pleasure, riches, and wealth; the "summun bonum", or happiness of men, did not lie in these things; this he knew by experience, and had the strongest assurance of it: or in them, that is, the children of men, as the Targum: there is no real good thing in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:13

And also that every man should eat and drink ,.... Not to excess, but in moderation; and yet freely, plentifully, and cheerfully; and not alone, but giving the poor a portion with him; and in all having in view the glory of God, 1 Corinthians 10:31 ; and enjoy the good of all his labour ; take the comfort of what he has been labouring for, and not lay it up for, and leave it to, he knows not who: the Targum is, "and see good in his days, and cause his children, at the time of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:14

I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever ,.... Which some, as Jarchi, understand of the works of creation, the heavens and the earth, which are however of long standing and duration; and though they shall be dissolved and perish, as to their form and quality, yet not as to the substance of them: the earth particularly is said to abide for ever, Ecclesiastes 1:4 ; the sun and moon, and stars, keep their course or station; and the several seasons of the year have their constant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which hath seen is now; and that which is to be hath already been ,.... That which has been from the beginning now is; that which cometh, and what shall be in the end of days, has been already, as the Targum. Jarchi interprets this of God and his attributes, which are always the same; he is the "I am that I am", Exodus 3:14 ; the immutable and eternal Jehovah, which is, and was, and is to come, invariably the same. Or rather it designs his decrees and purposes; what has been decreed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment ,.... Courts of judicature, where judges sit, and, causes are brought before them, and are heard and tried; such as were the Jewish sanhedrim, of which the Midrash and Jarchi interpret it; that wickedness was there , wicked judges sat there, and wickedness was committed by them; instead of doing justice they perverted it; condemned the righteous, and acquitted the wicked; and oppressed the widow, fatherless, and stranger, whose... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16

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