Ecclesiastes 3:18 NIV

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 3:18

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men ,.... He thought of the condition of the children of men, their sinful and polluted state; he weighed and considered in his mind their actions, conversation, and course of life; and was concerned how it would go with them at the day of judgment on account of the same. Some render it, "I said in mine heart after the speech of the children of men" F18 על דברת בני האדם "super verbum filiorum Adam", Montanus; "verbis... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:18

That they might see that they themselves are beasts - The author of Choheleth has given a correct view of this difficult verse, by a proper translation: "I said in my heart, reflecting on the state of the sons of men, O that God would enlighten them, and make them see that even they themselves are like beasts." These words are to be referred to those in authority who abused their power; particularly to the corrupt magistrates mentioned above. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Section 4. In confirmation of the truth that man's happiness depends upon the will of God, Koheleth proceeds to show how Providence arranges even the minutest concerns; that man can alter nothing, must make the best of things as they are, bear with anomalies, bounding his desires by this present life. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Acknowledging the providential government of God, which controls events and places man's happiness out of his own power, one is confronted also by the fact that there is much wickedness, much injustice, in the world, which oppose all plans for peaceful enjoyment. Doubtless there shall be a day of retribution for such iniquities; and God allows them now in order to try men and to teach them humility. Meantime man's duty and happiness consist, as before said, in making the best use of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:18

The comfort derived from the thought of the future judgment is clouded by the reflection that man is as powerless as the beast to control his destiny. Concerning the estate of the sons of men ; rather, it happens on account of the sons of men . God allows events to take place, disorders to continue, etc; for the ultimate profit of men, though the idea that follows is humiliating and dispiriting. The LXX . has περὶ λαλιᾶς , " concerning the speech of the sons of men." So the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

That great anomaly in the moral government of this world, the seemingly unequal distribution of rewards and punishments, will be rectified by God, who has future times and events under His control Ecclesiastes 3:16-17. As for people, they are placed by God, who is their teacher, in a humble condition, even on a level with inferior animals, by death, that great instance of their subjection to vanity Ecclesiastes 3:18-19, which reduces to its original form all that was made of the dust of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 3:18

Ecclesiastes 3:18. I said in my heart, &c. And I further considered concerning their condition in this present world. That God might manifest them God suffers these disorders among men, that he might discover men to themselves, and show what strange creatures they are, and what vile hearts they have. That they are beasts That although God made them men, yet they have made themselves beasts by their brutish practices, and that, considered only with respect to the present life, they... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Injustice in the world (3:16-4:3)Having acknowledged God’s order in human events, the writer now observes that the ‘order’ is, at times, not very orderly. For example, injustice abounds (16). Maybe, thinks the writer, God will put everything right in a judgment day in the afterlife (17). On the other hand, thinks he, there may not be an afterlife. He observes that people die the same as animals, as if God is trying to show that they are no different from the beasts. Also, he asks, can it be... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 3:18

God. Compare Ecclesiastes 3:11 , and note on Ecclesiastes 1:11 . God might manifest them = God hath chosen them to show them that even they are beasts. beasts = living creatures. As opposed to man = mammals: as opposed to creeping things = quadrupeds: as opposed to wild beasts = cattle. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 3:18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 3:18

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