Ecclesiastes 11:5 kjv
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 nkjv
As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 niv
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 esv
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 nlt
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 9:10 | "who does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number." | God's works are unsearchable |
| Job 10:8-12 | "Your hands fashioned and made me… You clothed me with skin and flesh, with bones and sinews..." | God's intricate creation of life |
| Pss 33:10-11 | "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing… The counsel of the Lord stands forever." | God's plans are unthwartable |
| Pss 92:5 | "How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!" | God's works and thoughts are profound |
| Pss 139:6 | "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." | God's knowledge and ways are beyond human grasp |
| Pss 139:13-16 | "You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb." | God's hand in forming life in the womb |
| Pro 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." | Trust God, not human understanding |
| Pro 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." | Human planning vs. God's ultimate direction |
| Pro 20:24 | "A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" | Human inability to fully understand own path |
| Isa 40:28 | "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God… His understanding is unsearchable." | God's understanding is limitless |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord." | God's thoughts are superior to human |
| Jer 10:23 | "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Humans cannot direct their own steps |
| Zec 12:1 | "who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." | God creates the human spirit |
| Rom 11:33-36 | "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!" | God's unsearchable wisdom and ways |
| 1 Cor 2:11 | "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." | Divine knowledge is exclusively God's |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | "for we walk by faith, not by sight." | Emphasizes living by faith in the unseen God |
| Heb 11:3 | "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." | Understanding creation requires faith |
| Gen 2:7 | "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." | God directly imparts the breath/spirit of life |
| Pss 104:30 | "When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground." | God's Spirit is life-giving |
| Ecc 8:17 | "even though a man toil to find it out, yet he will not find it. And even though a wise man claim to know, he cannot find it out." | The limits of human knowledge concerning God's work |
| Ecc 11:6 | "In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good." | Leads to action despite not knowing outcomes |
Ecclesiastes 11 verses
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 11:5 declares that just as humanity cannot fathom the intricate and mysterious process by which life (the spirit/breath) is formed in the hidden darkness of a mother's womb, so too can we not fully comprehend the vast, multifaceted works and overarching plans of God, who sovereignly accomplishes all things. It highlights the profound limitations of human understanding in contrast to God's infinite wisdom and comprehensive control over all creation and providence.
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Context
Ecclesiastes 11 is a pivotal chapter, transitioning Qoheleth's musings from the inherent "vanity" and unpredictability of life "under the sun" to practical exhortations for diligent living, generosity, and wise stewardship. It follows the preceding chapters that highlight the limitations of human wisdom, wealth, and pleasure. Verses 1-4 encourage proactive engagement with life despite uncertainties, comparing it to scattering seed or trusting in providence without knowing the outcome. Verse 5 provides the theological foundation for this call to action, by firmly establishing the incomprehensibility of God's ways. If one cannot understand the basic mystery of biological life formation, how can they hope to grasp the divine master plan for all things? Therefore, the emphasis shifts from passive observation of futility to active faith and engagement with the world, acknowledging God's ultimate sovereignty even when His workings remain mysterious. This verse underscores the pervasive theme of human epistemic limitation found throughout the book, ultimately directing the reader towards reverence for God and obedience, as commanded in the conclusion (Ecc 12:13-14).
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Word analysis
- As you do not know (כַּאֲשֶׁר אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ - ka'asher einekha yodea): "You do not know" emphasizes the direct, inherent lack of human knowledge. The initial "as" (ka'asher) sets up a direct analogy. It's a statement of empirical observation and a reminder of human limitation, forming the basis for the parallel comparison that follows.
- the way (דֶּרֶךְ - derekh): Literally "path" or "road," but here it refers to the "manner" or "process." It signifies the intricate mechanism or the means by which something occurs, highlighting the how rather than just the what.
- the spirit (הָרוּחַ - ha-ruach): The definite article points to a specific 'spirit'. In this context, ruach primarily denotes the life-giving breath or animating principle, not necessarily referring to the Holy Spirit or an immortal soul in a later theological sense, but the essence that bestows life. Its invisible and unobservable nature makes its entrance into the fetus profoundly mysterious, a prime example of God's hidden workings. It echoes Gen 2:7 where God breathes the "breath of life" into Adam.
- comes to the bones (אֶל עֲצָמִים - el atzamim): "Comes" (lit. "comes upon") signifies its supernatural infusion. "Bones" (atzamim) often refer to the skeletal framework, representing the foundational structure of the body. The phrase points to the mysterious process where an amorphous embryo takes on a definitive form, organized and animated by this life-giving force, a divine act beyond human comprehension or intervention.
- in the womb of a woman with child (בְּבֶטֶן הַהָרָה - beveten ha-harah): "Womb" (beten) signifies the innermost, hidden place of conception and development. "Woman with child" (ha-harah) means "pregnant." This phrase identifies the specific context of the biological mystery—the very origin of human life—as being entirely beyond human sight, influence, or understanding of its profound process. It emphasizes the profound privacy and inscrutability of early life development.
- so you do not know (כֵּן לֹא תֵדַע - ken lo teda): This completes the direct parallelism established by the initial "as." The same lack of knowledge applied to the profound biological mystery is directly applicable to divine providence. The wisdom literature often uses such natural phenomena to illustrate spiritual truths.
- the work of God (מַעֲשֵׂה הָאֱלֹהִים - ma'aseh ha-Elohim): "Work" (ma'aseh) refers to God's deeds, actions, or plans. "God" (ha-Elohim) signifies the transcendent, sovereign Creator. This phrase encompasses everything God does in His creation and providential governance—from cosmic design to individual human destinies, implying His comprehensive activity in all things.
- who does all things (אֶת הַכֹּל - et ha-kol): Literally "He who does the whole/all." This emphatic addition highlights God's absolute sovereignty and comprehensive involvement. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge or allowance. This "all things" extends beyond creation to encompass His overarching purposes and the unfolding of history, emphasizing the scope of human ignorance concerning His master plan.
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Bonus section
The Hebrew word רוּחַ (ruach) in this verse is deliberately ambiguous, meaning "wind," "breath," or "spirit." This ambiguity enhances the mystery: is it the wind (an invisible force, like the spirit, moving and animating)?; the breath of life (divinely given, as in Gen 2:7)?; or the spirit of the individual or God's Spirit? All these interpretations align with the core message of God's unseen, life-giving, and inscrutable agency. The verse indirectly challenges human hubris and ancient or contemporary beliefs in human self-sufficiency or deterministic fate by placing ultimate control and understanding firmly with God alone. It serves as a call to move beyond human speculation to faith-driven action, understanding that God’s plan, though hidden, is perfectly executed.
Ecclesiastes 11 5 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 11:5 provides a profound theological foundation for a life of faith and diligent action amidst uncertainty. Qoheleth presents an irreducible mystery of the natural world—the development of life in the womb—as an analogue for the incomprehensibility of God's universal plan. Just as medical science, despite its advancements, cannot truly explain the essence of how an invisible spirit animates a physical form, so too human wisdom cannot unravel the profound workings of God in providence, justice, and the grand scheme of creation. This verse teaches intellectual humility, warning against the futility of exhaustive human reasoning or control over divine outcomes. It is not an invitation to passive despair, but a summons to actively live, work, and sow good deeds (as per Ecc 11:6) without full knowledge of results, resting in the confident acknowledgement that an infinitely wise God, whose ways are inscrutable yet purposeful, "does all things." This encourages a life lived in humble dependence and faithful obedience, rather than analytical paralysis.