Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? New Living Translation The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they? English Standard Version The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? Berean Standard Bible For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? King James Bible Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? New King James Version Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? New American Standard Bible For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person? NASB 1995 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? NASB 1977 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? Legacy Standard Bible For there are many words which increase vanity. What then is the advantage to a man? Amplified Bible For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man? Christian Standard Bible For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind? Holman Christian Standard Bible For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man? American Standard Version Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? Aramaic Bible in Plain English Because there are many matters that increase futility. What profit does a son of man have? Brenton Septuagint Translation For there are many things which increase vanity. What advantage has a man? Contemporary English Version The more we talk, the less sense we make, so what good does it do to talk? Douay-Rheims Bible There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. English Revised Version Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? GOD'S WORD® Translation The more words there are, the more pointless they become. What advantage do mortals gain from this? Good News Translation The longer you argue, the more useless it is, and you are no better off. International Standard Version Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? JPS Tanakh 1917 Seeing there are many words that increase vanity, what is man the better? Literal Standard Version For there are many things multiplying vanity; What advantage [is] to man? Majority Standard Bible For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? New American Bible For the more words, the more vanity; what profit is there for anyone? NET Bible The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him? New Revised Standard Version The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better? New Heart English Bible For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? Webster's Bible Translation Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? World English Bible For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? Young's Literal Translation For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage is to man? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Life…10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11For the more words, the more futility— and how does that profit anyone? 12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?… Cross References Ecclesiastes 2:15 So I said to myself, "The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?" And I said to myself that this too is futile. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? Treasury of Scripture Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? Ecclesiastes 1:6-9,17,18 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits… Ecclesiastes 2:3-11 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life… Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. Jump to Previous Advantage Advantaged Better Create Futility Increase Increasing Less Meaning Multiplying Profit Profited Purpose Vanity WordsJump to Next Advantage Advantaged Better Create Futility Increase Increasing Less Meaning Multiplying Profit Profited Purpose Vanity WordsEcclesiastes 6 1. the vanity of riches without use3. though a man have many children and a long life 7. the vanity of sight and wandering desires 10. The conclusion of vanities (11) Things.--We might also translate "words."Verse 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 unsatisfactory nature of labor and wealth and earthly goods, and their absolute dependence upon Providence. But in view of the previous context, and especially of ver. 10, which speaks of contending (din) with God, it is most suitable to translate debarim "words," and to understand them of the expressions of impatience, doubt, and unbelief to which men give utterance when arraigning the acts or endeavoring to explain the decrees of God. Such profitless words only increase the perplexity in which men are involved. It is very possible that reference is here made to the discussions on the chief good, free-will, predestination, and the like subjects, which, as we know from Josephus, had begun to be mooted in Jewish schools, as they had long been rife in those of Greece. In these disputes Pharisees and Sadducees took opposite sides. The former maintained that some things, but not all, were the subject of fate (τῆς εἱμαρμένης), and that certain things were in our own power to do or not to do; that is, while they attribute all that happens to fate, or God's decree, they hold that man has the power of assent, supposing that God tempers all in such sort, that by his ordinance and man's will all things are performed, good or evil. The Sadducees eliminated fate altogether from human actions, and asserted that men are in all things governed, not by any external force, but by their own will alone; that their success and happiness depended upon themselves, and that ill fortune was the consequence of their own folly or stupidity. A third school, the Essenes, held that fate was supreme, and that nothing could happen to mankind beyond or in contravention of its decree ('Joseph. Ant.,' 13:5. 9; 18:1:3, 4; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:08. 14). Such speculative discussions may have been in Koheleth's mind when he wrote this sentence. Whatever may be the difficulties of the position, we Christians know and feel that in matters of religion and morality we are absolutely free, have an unfettered choice, and that from this fact arises our responsibility. What is man the better? What profit has man from such speculations or words of skepticism? Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the more הַרְבֵּ֖ה (har·bêh) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great words, דְּבָרִ֥ים (də·ḇā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause the more מַרְבִּ֣ים (mar·bîm) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great futility— הָ֑בֶל (hā·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory and how מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what does that profit יֹּתֵ֖ר (yō·ṯêr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3148: Superiority, advantage, excess anyone? לָאָדָֽם׃ (lā·’ā·ḏām) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being Links Ecclesiastes 6:11 NIVEcclesiastes 6:11 NLT Ecclesiastes 6:11 ESV Ecclesiastes 6:11 NASB Ecclesiastes 6:11 KJV Ecclesiastes 6:11 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 6:11 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 6:11 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 6:11 French Bible Ecclesiastes 6:11 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 6:11 For there are many words that create (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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