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Amplified Bible

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Liberality;   Seven;   Thompson Chain Reference - Future, the;   Knowledge;   Mysteries-Revelations;   Seven;   The Topic Concordance - Bearing Fruit;   Giving and Gifts;   Knowledge;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Liberality;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Poetry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ecclesiastes;   Gift, Giving;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Eight;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Number;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Numbers and Numerals;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for August 16;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Give a portion to seven or even to eight,for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.
Hebrew Names Version
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; For you don't know what evil will be on the eretz.
King James Version
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
English Standard Version
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
New American Standard Bible
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.
New Century Version
Invest what you have in several different businesses, because you don't know what disasters might happen.
World English Bible
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; For you don't know what evil will be on the earth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Giue a portion to seuen, & also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye earth.
Legacy Standard Bible
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what calamity may occur on the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
Contemporary English Version
Share what you have with seven or eight others, because you never know when disaster may strike.
Complete Jewish Bible
Divide your merchandise into seven or eight shares, since you don't know what disasters may come on the earth.
Darby Translation
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Invest what you have in several different things. You don't know what bad things might happen on earth.
George Lamsa Translation
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what misfortune shall come upon the earth.
Good News Translation
Put your investments in several places—many places even—because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world.
Lexham English Bible
Divide your share in seven or in eight, for you do not know what disaster will happen on the earth.
Literal Translation
Give a share to seven, or even to eight; for you do not know what evil may be on the earth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Geue it awaye amonge seuen or eight, for thou knowest not what misery shal come vpo earth.
American Standard Version
Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Bible in Basic English
Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Divide a portion into seven, yea, even into eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
King James Version (1611)
Giue a portion to seuen and also to eight; for thou knowest noc what euill shall be vpon the earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Geue part seue days, & also vpon the eyght: for thou knowest not what miserie shall come vpon earth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil there shall be upon the earth.
English Revised Version
Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Yyue thou partis seuene, and also eiyte; for thou woost not, what yuel schal come on erthe.
Update Bible Version
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don't know what evil shall be on the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
New English Translation
Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
New King James Version
Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
New Living Translation
But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
New Life Bible
Share what you have with seven, or even with eight, for you do not know what trouble may come on the earth.
New Revised Standard
Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, - for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, upon the earth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Revised Standard Version
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what evil may happen on earth.
Young's Literal Translation
Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.
THE MESSAGE
Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

Contextual Overview

1Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions], for you will find it after many days. 2Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.3If the clouds are full [of rain], they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it lies. 4He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]. 5Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a portion: Nehemiah 8:10, Esther 9:19, Esther 9:22, Psalms 112:9, Luke 6:30-35, 1 Timothy 6:18, 1 Timothy 6:19

seven: Job 5:19, Proverbs 6:16, Micah 5:5, Matthew 18:22, Luke 17:4

for: Daniel 4:27, Acts 11:28-30, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 5:16, Hebrews 13:3

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:25 - General 1 Samuel 25:8 - a good day 1 Samuel 25:11 - give it 2 Samuel 17:29 - The people Psalms 41:1 - Blessed Proverbs 3:10 - General Proverbs 11:24 - that scattereth Proverbs 13:7 - that maketh himself poor Proverbs 14:21 - he that hath Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye Proverbs 31:20 - she reacheth Isaiah 58:7 - to deal Ezekiel 18:16 - but hath Amos 1:3 - For Zechariah 8:23 - ten men Matthew 5:42 - General Matthew 6:2 - when Matthew 14:16 - they Matthew 25:35 - I was an Luke 6:38 - and it Luke 11:41 - rather Luke 12:17 - shall Acts 2:45 - parted Acts 11:29 - to send Romans 12:8 - giveth 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use

Cross-References

Genesis 10:10
The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar [in Babylonia].
Genesis 11:9
Therefore the name of the city was Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the entire earth; and from that place the LORD scattered and dispersed them over the surface of all the earth.
Genesis 13:11
Then Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and he traveled east. So they separated from each other.
Genesis 14:1
In the days of the [Eastern] kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim,
Isaiah 11:11
Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again acquire with His hand a second time The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, from [Lower] Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush (Ethiopia), from Elam [in Persia], from Shinar [Babylonia], from Hamath [in Aram], And from the coastlands bordering the [Mediterranean] Sea.
Daniel 1:2
The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles of the house of God; and he brought them into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god.
Zechariah 5:11
And he said to me, "To the land of Shinar (Babylon) to build a temple for her; and when it is prepared, she shall be set there on her own pedestal."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight,.... Or, a "part" q; not the whole of a man's substance, for he must have to support himself and his family; he that does not take care of that is worse than an infidel; a man may bestow all his goods on the poor, and not have charity; though no doubt there was true charity, or love, in the poor widow that threw in all her substance into the treasury, which was an extraordinary case, 1 Timothy 5:8; but a man is to give of such things that he has, ordinarily, and not all that he has, Luke 11:41; he is to give according to his ability, and what he can spare from the service of himself and family; and this is to be distributed, and given in parts to the poor, according to their necessities; not all to one, but something to everyone, "to seven, and also to eight": if seven persons apply, give them everyone a part; and, if an eighth person comes, send him not away empty; give to every one that asketh, Luke 6:30; compare with this phrase Micah 5:5; Some think this respects time, so Aben Ezra; that a man should give constantly and continually, should be daily giving, all the seven days of the week, and when the eighth day comes, or the week begins again, go on in the same course. The Targum is,

"put a good part of seed in thy field in Tisri (the seventh month), and do not cease from sowing even in Casleu,''

the eighth month;

for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth; what calamities shall come upon it, which may sweep away all a man's substance; it may be destroyed by fire, or washed away by a deluge of water, or plundered by an enemy; or, however, the day of death may quickly come, as it certainly shall, and then it will be no longer in a man's power to do good with what he has. Moreover, the arguments which covetous men use against liberality, the wise man uses for it; they argue that bad times may come, and they may sustain great losses; or have a greater charge upon them, a growing family; or they may live to old age, and want it themselves: be it no, these are reasons why they should give liberally while they can; that when these things they fear shall come upon them, they may be relieved and supplied by others; for those that show mercy shall find mercy; and this is the way to make themselves friends in a time of need, and against it; see Luke 16:9.

q חלק "partem", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The verse means: “Let your hospitality and your alms be extensive: for you know not what reverses may befall either that person who by your liberality will be strengthened to meet them, or yourself who may come to need grateful friends.” Compare Luke 16:9.

Seven, and also to eight - A definite number for an indefinite (compare marginal reference).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 11:2. Give a portion to seven — Never cease giving while thou seest a person in distress, and hast wherewithal to relieve him.

Thou knowest not what evil — Such may be the change of times, that thou mayest yet stand in need of similar help thyself. Do as thou wouldst be done by.


 
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