Ecclesiastes 11 3

Ecclesiastes 11:3 kjv

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Ecclesiastes 11:3 nkjv

If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.

Ecclesiastes 11:3 niv

If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Ecclesiastes 11:3 esv

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Ecclesiastes 11:3 nlt

When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

Ecclesiastes 11 verses

Ecclesiastes 11 3 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 11:3 presents two distinct parables from the natural world, illustrating profound truths about cause and effect, the certainty of outcomes, and the finality of certain events. The first part, concerning the clouds, signifies that once conditions are met, an inevitable outcome will follow; a potential is realized, and its consequence cannot be withheld. The second part, about the fallen tree, emphasizes the permanence and irreversibility of an accomplished fact. Regardless of how or where an event occurs, its outcome is fixed in that location and cannot be altered. Together, these statements teach that in life, certain realities, processes, and consequences are divinely ordained, inescapable, and unchangeable once they have occurred. This understanding should motivate wisdom in action, preparedness, and acceptance of God's established order.

Ecclesiastes 11 3 Context

Ecclesiastes 11:3 is situated within a passage (11:1-6) that transitions from the Kohelet's musings on vanity and uncertainty to practical exhortations for wise living. The preceding verses (11:1-2) encourage generosity, risk-taking, and diversification of efforts, acknowledging that one does not know what adversity may come. This verse then builds upon that by offering an analogy: just as certain natural laws are unalterable, so too are certain realities in life. It directly precedes verses 11:4-6, which admonish against hesitation and overthinking, emphasizing that one who waits for perfect conditions will never act, contrasting the human inability to fully comprehend divine workings with the need for diligent effort. Overall, chapter 11 advocates for decisive, God-fearing action and stewardship in light of both life's inherent uncertainties and its unyielding realities.

Ecclesiastes 11 3 Word analysis

• If the clouds are full of rain (אִם יִמָּלְאוּ הָעָבִים גֶּשֶׁם, Im yimale'u he'abim geshem):
  • `Im` (אִם): "If, truly, surely." Introduces a conditional statement, implying a clear, observable cause-and-effect relationship in the natural world.
  • `yimale'u` (יִמָּלְאוּ): "are full, filled." From the verb mala, "to fill, be full." This is a completed action in the sense of being fully charged or saturated. It signifies a state of readiness where a natural process has reached its inevitable point of discharge. The potential is maximized.
  • `he'abim` (הָעָבִים): "the clouds." Natural meteorological phenomena, divinely orchestrated (Ps 147:8), from which rain proceeds. They symbolize a state of accumulated potential or readiness.
  • `geshem` (גֶּשֶׁם): "rain, downpour." Essential for life and agriculture in the ancient world, but also a powerful force. Here, it is the inevitable consequence of full clouds, highlighting that once certain conditions are met, the outcome will certainly follow.
• they empty themselves on the earth (יָרִיקוּ עַל־הָאָרֶץ, yāriqû ‘al-hā’āretz):
  • `yāriqû` (יָרִיקוּ): "they empty out, pour out." From the verb raqaq, "to empty, pour out." This describes a natural, unforced, and unavoidable action. The clouds cannot hold back their content once fully laden. It signifies the release or manifestation of an accumulated potential.
  • `‘al-hā’āretz` (עַל־הָאָרֶץ): "upon the earth." The sphere where the consequence (rain) lands, demonstrating its tangible and widespread effect. It points to the real-world impact of the prior condition.
• and if a tree falls to the south or to the north (וְאִם יִפּוֹל עֵץ בַּדָּרוֹם אוֹ בַצָּפוֹן, ve’im yippol etz ba'darom o ba'tzafon):
  • `ve'im yippol` (וְאִם יִפּוֹל): "and if it falls." yippol from naphal, "to fall, cast down." Implies an event that occurs definitively, whether by natural decay, wind, or human action. The falling signifies an accomplished, irreversible event.
  • `etz` (עֵץ): "a tree." A common biblical metaphor for life, growth, or individuals (e.g., Ps 1:3). Its fall denotes a cessation of life or an event with lasting implications.
  • `ba'darom` (בַּדָּרוֹם): "to the south."
  • `o ba'tzafon` (אוֹ בַצָּפוֹן): "or to the north." These two cardinal directions (often symbolizing entirety or opposing extremes, Ps 89:12; Zech 14:4) represent all possible outcomes of its fall. The specific direction does not matter, as the central point is the fall itself and its fixed consequence. This phrase emphasizes the inevitability and encompassing nature of the truth being conveyed, regardless of initial variables or randomness.
• in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie (מְקוֹם שֶׁיִּפּוֹל שָׁם הוּא יִהְיֶה, meqom sheyyippol sham hu yihyeh):
  • `meqom sheyyippol` (מְקוֹם שֶׁיִּפּוֹל): "the place where it falls." The exact location of the accomplished event or outcome. This specifies the point of no return.
  • `sham hu yihyeh` (שָׁם הוּא יִהְיֶה): "there it will be/remain." `hu yihyeh` means "it, he, or that will be," with yihyeh being the future tense of `hayah`, "to be." It expresses a permanent, fixed state. Once fallen, the tree cannot readily change its position. It underscores the unalterable finality of an event once it has transpired.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • Clouds full of rain / they empty themselves: This phrase highlights a direct, natural cause-and-effect. Once potential is maximized (clouds are full), the consequence (emptying themselves as rain) is unavoidable. It represents the certainty of outcome from an established state or action.
  • Tree falls / to the south or to the north: This speaks to the randomness or varied nature of how an event might occur, yet regardless of the "direction," the fundamental truth of its fallen state remains the same. The focus is not on why it fell or which way, but on the fact of its fall.
  • In the place where the tree falls, there it will lie: This underscores the finality and permanence of the accomplished event. There is no reversing the fact. Once something significant happens, its impact is fixed and enduring, defining the new reality. It symbolizes that life's irreversible actions or situations demand sober acknowledgment and acceptance.

Ecclesiastes 11 3 Bonus section

• Connection to 'Hevel': While this verse seems to declare certainty, it paradoxically reinforces the Kohelet's theme of hevel (vanity/breath). The unyielding nature of these fixed realities contributes to the futility human beings often feel when they try to alter outcomes or escape consequences. It underscores human limitation in the face of divinely ordained structures.
• Divine Ordering: The natural laws depicted (water cycle, gravity, stability) are not random but are established by God (Job 28:25-26, Jer 14:22). This verse implicitly points to a world ordered by the Creator, within which humans must operate. It is not chaos but a system of cause and effect.
• Application to Stewardship: The verse underpins the wisdom of responsible stewardship. Just as a farmer must acknowledge the rain will fall when clouds are full, and that a tree once felled stays where it is, individuals must manage their resources and actions with the understanding that consequences are real and often enduring.
• A Call to Action, Not Fatalism: Despite the emphasis on inevitability and finality, the Kohelet's overarching message in chapter 11 is not fatalism. Instead, it is a practical call to diligence and taking opportunities (vv. 4-6) because of, rather than despite, these fixed realities. Since one cannot control outcomes once set in motion, wisdom lies in making good choices beforehand.

Ecclesiastes 11 3 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 11:3 uses vivid natural imagery to impart a profound lesson: certain laws and realities, both natural and spiritual, are fixed and unalterable. The cloud illustrates that once a potential or condition is met, its consequence is inevitable – you cannot prevent rain from full clouds. The fallen tree emphasizes the irreversible nature of a decisive event – once it has happened, its state is permanent and cannot be undone or moved without significant effort, representing an accomplished fact that defines a new reality. Kohelet, therefore, challenges us to understand that while much in life feels uncertain, some outcomes are definite. This understanding should discourage vain speculation and inaction, and instead motivate careful consideration and timely action in accordance with God's established order. The verse acts as a reminder that deeds, opportunities, and decisions in life, much like natural occurrences, often carry fixed consequences. For example, once words are spoken, they cannot be unsaid; once an opportunity is lost, it might not return.