Ecclesiastes 11:2 kjv
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 nkjv
Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 niv
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 esv
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 nlt
But divide your investments among many places,
for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eccl 11:1 | Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. | Sowing resources widely. |
| Prov 11:24 | There is one who scatters, yet increases more... | Paradox of generous giving. |
| Prov 11:25 | ...He who waters will himself be watered. | Reciprocity of generosity. |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Principle of proportionate blessing. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | ...God loves a cheerful giver. | Motivation for generous giving. |
| Luke 6:38 | Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over... | Divine promise for giving. |
| Deut 15:10 | You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him... | Command for generous giving to the needy. |
| Prov 19:17 | He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for what he has given. | Giving to the poor as an act of lending to God. |
| Heb 13:16 | But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. | Sharing and doing good pleases God. |
| 1 Tim 6:18-19 | ...ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the coming age... | Wise use of wealth through generosity. |
| Prov 22:3 | A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. | Wisdom to prepare for difficulty. |
| Prov 27:1 | Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. | Humility regarding the future's uncertainty. |
| Jas 4:13-14 | Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city...you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. | Uncertainty of life's plans. |
| Gen 41:34-36 | Let them gather all the food...to prepare for the seven years of famine. | Practical example of preparation for disaster. |
| Matt 25:27 | ...you ought to have put my money in the bank, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. | Wise management and investment of resources. |
| Luke 12:20-21 | But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you...' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself... | Warning against hoarding for self. |
| Matt 6:25 | Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life... | Trusting God's provision over anxiety. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty... | Blessing tied to honoring God with wealth. |
| Gal 6:7-9 | Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap... | Principle of spiritual and practical reaping. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God... | Counteracting anxiety about the future. |
| 1 Pet 4:7-8 | The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another... | Urgency and motivation for selfless love and preparation. |
Ecclesiastes 11 verses
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 11:2 advises distributing one's resources widely and generously to many people or diverse ventures, symbolized by "seven, and also to eight." This wise allocation is motivated by the understanding that unforeseen calamities or misfortunes may arise in the future, making it prudent to prepare through strategic giving and diversification, rather than hoarding out of fear. It is a call to proactive generosity and financial wisdom in a world filled with uncertainties.
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Context
Ecclesiastes 11:2 flows directly from the preceding verse, "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days" (Eccl 11:1). Together, these verses form a powerful injunction to active, courageous engagement with life, particularly regarding the deployment of resources. The immediate context of Chapter 11 is Qoheleth's shift from exploring the vanity of human pursuits to offering practical wisdom for navigating life's inherent uncertainties. He encourages living joyfully and acting diligently, despite the fleeting and unpredictable nature of existence. Historically, the audience would have been an agricultural society prone to unpredictable weather, famine, or political upheaval. Qoheleth, through this counsel, advocates a mindset that counters the fear of loss by encouraging widespread investment and proactive charity.
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Word analysis
- Give a portion: The Hebrew term is שׁלח (shalach), meaning "to send forth, cast, or distribute," paired with חֵלֶק (cheleq), meaning "portion, share, or inheritance." This implies actively distributing or investing resources rather than passively hoarding. It denotes a deliberate act of spreading one's wealth, whether for business diversification or charitable giving.
- to seven, and also to eight: This is a numerical parallelism or literary device common in Hebrew wisdom literature (e.g., Amos 1:3-2:6). It does not signify a literal count but conveys the idea of abundance, completion (seven often symbolizing perfection), and then going beyond that completion (eight). It indicates generous, expansive distribution to many beneficiaries or multiple ventures, exceeding basic expectations. It implies thoroughness and extensiveness in giving or diversifying.
- for you do not know: This phrase highlights a central theme in Ecclesiastes: human ignorance and inability to control or predict the future. This "not knowing" is the critical motivation. It emphasizes the limitations of human foresight and control over external events.
- what disaster: The Hebrew word is רָעָה (ra'ah), which broadly means "evil, harm, misfortune, calamity, or trouble." It encompasses a wide range of adversities that can affect one's possessions or life, such as famine, economic downturn, war, or personal tragedy. The scope is broad, reflecting the unpredictable nature of earthly existence.
- may happen: Suggests a strong possibility, reinforcing the uncertainty and unpredictability that characterizes human life "under the sun."
- on earth: Refers to the temporal, worldly sphere, reinforcing that these uncertainties and potential disasters are inherent to earthly existence. It limits the scope of this counsel to the practical realities of life, emphasizing that even the wisest cannot foresee all events on this side of heaven.
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Bonus section
The phrase "seven and eight" is sometimes interpreted not just as an abundance of beneficiaries, but also as preparedness for various contingencies. Seven could represent what is due, or expected, and eight as exceeding that expectation, demonstrating an extra measure of foresight or generosity. This numerical sequence underlines the teaching that it's always wise to over-prepare or give beyond what might seem strictly necessary. The counsel aligns with a biblical worldview that values generosity and good stewardship as foundational to a secure and meaningful life, implicitly contrasting it with the futile accumulation of wealth for oneself. This verse serves as a reminder that human effort alone is insufficient against the tides of uncertainty; therefore, wise action must include trusting that distributed resources or acts of generosity may return benefits in unexpected ways or times of need.
Ecclesiastes 11 2 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 11:2 encapsulates a profound principle of wisdom: act with proactive generosity and strategic diversification because life is inherently unpredictable. It challenges the human tendency to hoard resources out of fear of an unknown future. Instead, Qoheleth counsels a "casting" or "sending out" of one's wealth, either through varied investments (spreading risk) or abundant charity (securing future good through divine favor or communal support). The "seven and eight" signifies not a limited target but boundless, even excessive, giving and diversification, going beyond what seems merely sufficient. This is not reckless abandon but a calculated risk, recognizing that what one holds onto tightly may be lost anyway. By giving away and spreading assets, one paradoxically builds resilience against unforeseen "disasters." It’s an instruction to prepare for life's challenges by wisely distributing resources, fostering both self-reliance (through diversification) and communal strength (through charity).
- Example: A farmer might plant diverse crops on different fields to protect against a single crop failure or localized drought.
- Example: A wealthy individual might establish multiple philanthropic funds, ensuring ongoing support even if one fund faces challenges.