Bible Commentaries
Ecclesiastes 11

Introduction

Overview

Ecclesiastes 11:1, Directions for charity; Ecclesiastes 11:7, Death in life, Ecclesiastes 11:9, and the day ofjudgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on.

Verse 1

Cast: That is, says Bp. Lowth, "Sow thy seed or corn on the face of the waters;" in plain terms, sow without any hope of a harvest: do good even to them on whom your benefactions seem thrown away. Dr. Jebb has well illustrated it by the following passages: Vain are the favours done to vicious men;

Not vainer tis to sow the foaming deep.

The deep no pleasant harvest shall afford

Nor will the wicked ever make return. "To befriend the wicked is like sowing in the sea.

These, indeed, invert this precept;

Nor is it extraordinary that they should. "The one, frail human power alone produced,

The other, God."

thy bread: Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 22:9, Isaiah 32:8

waters: Heb. face of the waters, Isaiah 32:20

for: Ecclesiastes 11:6, Deuteronomy 15:10, Psalms 41:1, Psalms 41:2, Psalms 126:5, Psalms 126:6, Proverbs 11:18, Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 10:13, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:40, Luke 14:14, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:8-10, Hebrews 6:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:25 - General 1 Samuel 25:11 - give it 2 Samuel 17:29 - The people 2 Chronicles 18:14 - Go ye up Psalms 112:9 - dispersed Proverbs 3:10 - General Proverbs 13:7 - that maketh himself poor Proverbs 14:21 - he that hath Proverbs 31:20 - she reacheth Ecclesiastes 3:6 - and a time to cast Isaiah 58:7 - to deal Ezekiel 18:16 - but hath Matthew 5:42 - General Matthew 25:17 - he also Matthew 25:35 - I was an Luke 6:38 - and it Luke 11:41 - rather Luke 16:9 - Make Acts 2:45 - parted Acts 11:29 - to send Romans 12:8 - giveth 1 Timothy 6:18 - ready

Verse 2

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

Verse 3

the clouds: 1 Kings 18:45, Psalms 65:9-13, Isaiah 55:10, Isaiah 55:11, 1 John 3:17

if the tree: Matthew 3:10, Luke 13:7, Luke 16:22-26

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:6 - Let there Genesis 1:7 - above Job 36:20 - cut Job 40:12 - in Ecclesiastes 9:10 - for Malachi 3:10 - pour you out Revelation 22:11 - that is unjust

Verse 4

Proverbs 3:27, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 22:13

Reciprocal: Haggai 1:2 - This Mark 4:26 - as John 3:8 - wind

Verse 5

thou knowest not what: John 3:8

nor: Psalms 139:14, Psalms 139:15

even: Ecclesiastes 7:24, Ecclesiastes 8:17, Job 5:9, Job 26:5-14, Job 36:24-33, Job 37:23, Job 38:4-41, Job 39:1 - Job 41:34, Psalms 40:5, Psalms 92:5, Psalms 104:24, Isaiah 40:28, Romans 11:33

Reciprocal: Mark 4:27 - and grow John 9:10 - General 1 Corinthians 15:35 - How

Verse 6

sow: Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 55:10, Hosea 10:12, Mark 4:26-29, John 4:36-38, 2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Timothy 4:2

thou knowest: Ecclesiastes 9:1, Haggai 1:6-11, Haggai 2:17-19, Zechariah 8:11, Zechariah 8:12, Acts 11:20, Acts 11:21, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 2 Corinthians 9:10, 2 Corinthians 9:11

prosper: Heb. be right

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:12 - an hundredfold Genesis 47:23 - here is seed Psalms 112:9 - dispersed Proverbs 3:28 - General Proverbs 11:24 - that scattereth Ecclesiastes 7:18 - good Ecclesiastes 11:1 - for Matthew 5:42 - General Mark 4:3 - there Luke 5:6 - they enclosed Romans 12:8 - giveth Galatians 6:8 - soweth to the 1 Timothy 6:18 - ready

Verse 7

the light: Job 33:28, Job 33:30, Psalms 56:13, Proverbs 15:30, Proverbs 29:13

a pleasant: Ecclesiastes 7:11, Psalms 84:11, Matthew 5:45

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:4 - that Ecclesiastes 2:13 - light Ecclesiastes 12:2 - the sun

Verse 8

if a man, Ecclesiastes 6:6, Ecclesiastes 8:12

rejoice: Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13, Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, Ecclesiastes 8:15

yet: Ecclesiastes 7:14, Ecclesiastes 12:1-5, Deuteronomy 32:29, Job 10:22, Job 14:10, Job 15:23, Job 18:18, Jeremiah 13:16, Joel 2:2, Matthew 22:13, John 12:35, Jude 1:18

All that: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Ecclesiastes 2:15, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 2:19, Ecclesiastes 2:21-23, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 4:16, Ecclesiastes 5:15, Ecclesiastes 5:16, Ecclesiastes 6:11

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:2 - General Ecclesiastes 12:2 - the sun

Verse 9

Rejoice: 1 Kings 18:27, 1 Kings 22:15, Luke 15:12, Luke 15:13

in thy youth: Ecclesiastes 12:1, 1 Kings 18:12, Lamentations 3:27

walk: Numbers 15:30, Numbers 22:32, Deuteronomy 29:19, Job 31:7, Psalms 81:12, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 23:17, Jeremiah 44:16, Jeremiah 44:17, Acts 14:16, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:3, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 Peter 4:4

in the sight: Ecclesiastes 2:10, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Joshua 7:21, 2 Samuel 11:2-4, Matthew 5:28, 1 John 2:15, 1 John 2:16

know: Ecclesiastes 3:17, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Psalms 50:4-6, Acts 17:30, Acts 17:31, Acts 24:25, Romans 2:5-11, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Peter 3:7, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:12-15

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:6 - Behold Numbers 15:39 - ye seek not Judges 11:27 - the Judge Judges 17:6 - right Judges 21:25 - right 1 Samuel 2:10 - judge 2 Chronicles 25:8 - be strong Job 15:12 - thine heart Job 19:29 - that ye may Job 20:12 - wickedness Psalms 34:11 - Come Psalms 119:9 - shall Proverbs 1:4 - to the Proverbs 10:23 - General Proverbs 14:13 - General Proverbs 20:17 - is sweet Ecclesiastes 2:24 - nothing Ecclesiastes 3:22 - nothing Ecclesiastes 5:11 - what Ecclesiastes 5:18 - it is good and comely Ecclesiastes 8:6 - therefore Jeremiah 13:10 - walk Lamentations 4:21 - be glad Ezekiel 11:21 - whose Amos 4:4 - Come Amos 6:13 - which Matthew 26:45 - Sleep on Mark 14:41 - Sleep Luke 12:19 - take Luke 16:2 - give John 5:22 - General Romans 2:16 - God Romans 14:12 - General 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 1 Corinthians 15:32 - let 2 Timothy 2:22 - youthful Titus 2:6 - Young James 5:5 - have lived

Verse 10

remove: Ecclesiastes 12:1, Job 13:26, Psalms 25:7, 2 Peter 3:11-14

sorrow: or, anger, Psalms 90:7-11

and put: Job 20:11, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Timothy 2:22

for: Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Psalms 39:5, Proverbs 22:15

Reciprocal: Judges 20:13 - put away 2 Kings 2:23 - little children Job 3:10 - hid Psalms 34:11 - Come Psalms 119:9 - shall Proverbs 1:4 - to the Ecclesiastes 2:24 - nothing Ecclesiastes 8:6 - therefore Luke 15:13 - wasted Luke 16:2 - give 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 1 Corinthians 13:11 - I spake