Ecclesiastes 3:14 kjv
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 nkjv
I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 niv
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 esv
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 nlt
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose is that people should fear him.
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's unchanging nature ensures His people's safety. |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." | God's perfect gifts flow from His unchangeable nature. |
| Heb 13:8 | "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." | The constancy of Christ mirrors God's immutability. |
| Ps 33:11 | "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations." | God's eternal plans cannot be thwarted. |
| Isa 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | God's word (and works) endure beyond creation's decay. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it..." | Warning against altering divine commands. |
| Prov 30:5-6 | "Every word of God proves true... Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you..." | Safeguarding the purity and completeness of God's word. |
| Rev 22:18-19 | "If anyone adds to them... if anyone takes away from the words..." | Severe warning against altering Revelation or God's word. |
| Deut 32:4 | "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice..." | Declaration of the perfection of God's works and ways. |
| Ps 18:30 | "As for God, His way is perfect..." | Affirmation of God's perfect path. |
| Isa 46:10 | "declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,’" | God's predetermined, sovereign purpose stands firm. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will..." | God's eternal purpose directs all things. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." | God's purpose uses all events for ultimate good. |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Fear of the Lord as foundation of true understanding. |
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it." | Reverent awe leads to true wisdom. |
| Job 28:28 | "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” | Equating wisdom with the fear of the Lord and avoiding evil. |
| Isa 11:2-3 | "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him... and His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD." | The Spirit-anointed Messiah's reverence for God. |
| Luke 12:5 | "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!" | Christ's teaching on fearing God's ultimate judgment. |
| Phil 2:12 | "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." | Fearing God encourages diligent obedience. |
| Ps 19:9 | "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever..." | The enduring, purifying quality of the fear of the Lord. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?" | God's faithfulness and unwavering commitment to His word. |
| Ps 119:89-91 | "Forever, O LORD, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. By Your appointments they stand this day, for all are Your servants." | God's word, faithfulness, and creation are enduring and subject to Him. |
Ecclesiastes 3 verses
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Meaning
The verse states that God's actions and His created order are eternal, perfect, and unalterable. Nothing human or divine can add to or subtract from what God has established. The ultimate purpose behind this divine immutability and perfection is that humanity should approach Him with reverence and awe, acknowledging His sovereign majesty and absolute control over all things.
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 3 begins with the iconic assertion that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven. The Preacher (Qoheleth) lists various pairs of opposing human experiences and actions, from birth and death to war and peace, highlighting the cyclical and often paradoxical nature of life. This section initially presents life as being under a determined, unchangeable flow, seemingly beyond human control or understanding. Amidst this observation of life's fixed patterns and human striving, Ecclesiastes 3:14 provides a crucial theological pivot. It shifts from merely observing life's seasons to affirming God's active, sovereign authorship of these times and events. The verse offers a deep theological foundation for the preceding observations, grounding the seemingly chaotic or indifferent rhythms of life in the immutable and perfect will of God, thus introducing a divine purpose for human existence: to fear God.
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Word analysis
- I know (יָדַעְתִּי, yadati): This reflects Qoheleth's personal, firm conviction, arrived at through observation and deep contemplation, indicating a conclusion, not merely an opinion. It is a declaration of revealed truth, a certainty.
- that whatever God (הָאֱלֹהִים, ha'Elohim): This refers to God as the sovereign Creator and Ruler of all things. The definite article "the" emphasizes the singular, personal, and absolute God. It speaks of divine agency behind all creation and events.
- does (עָשָׂה, 'asah): Implies active making, doing, bringing into being, or establishing. It refers to God's continuous works in creation, history, and human experience.
- endures forever (לְעוֹלָם, le'olam): This signifies perpetuity, eternity, and immutability. God's actions and His established order are not subject to decay, alteration, or the passage of time like human endeavors. They are fixed and permanent.
- nothing can be added to it (לְהוֹסִיף, l'hosif): This denotes completeness and perfection. God's works are flawless and lack nothing. Human effort cannot improve or supplement them. It suggests a polemic against human arrogance in believing they can 'better' divine design.
- nor anything taken from it (לִגְרֹעַ, ligro'a): This conveys inviolability and sufficiency. God's works are irreducible; they are exactly as they should be, and no part can be removed without diminishing His perfect plan. It stands against any attempt to dilute or negate God's commands or order.
- God does it: This repetition of divine agency powerfully re-emphasizes that this eternal, perfect, and unalterable state of things originates solely with God. It affirms His sovereignty as the sole actor responsible for this truth.
- so that (לְבִלְתִּי, l'bilti) people may fear before Him (יִירְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו, yir'u mill'fanav): This is the divine purpose. "Fear" here (יָרֵא, yare) does not primarily mean terror, but rather reverence, awe, humble submission, and worship. It signifies acknowledging God's majesty, power, and absolute authority, and aligning one's life in accordance with His unchangeable will. "Before Him" implies direct confrontation with His presence and authority.
- Words-group Analysis
- "whatever God does endures forever": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over time and creation. His actions are not temporary or transient but have an eternal dimension, contrasting sharply with human works which are often fleeting and prone to decay.
- "nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it": This is a powerful statement about the perfection and inviolability of God's works. It implies that God's plan is comprehensive and complete, incapable of improvement by human wisdom or corrupted by human interference. It reflects God's wisdom, righteousness, and eternal consistency.
- "God does it, so that people may fear before Him": This combination reveals the teleological (purpose-driven) aspect of divine sovereignty. The fixed, immutable nature of God's work is not for arbitrary control, but to cultivate a proper, reverent response from humanity. It is designed to elicit awe and humble obedience, bringing humans to their rightful place of submission and worship before the Most High. This 'fear' is the ultimate wise response to a perfectly ordered, divine universe.
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Bonus section
This verse implies a polemic against human pride and self-sufficiency. If God's work is perfect and immutable, then all human striving to "improve" or "master" ultimate reality outside of His revealed will is futile. It shifts the human quest for control and meaning from attempting to manipulate circumstances to reverently submitting to God's overarching design. The truth that God's works endure forever means humanity does not bear the burden of perfecting creation or life; rather, their responsibility is to live in obedient awe of the One who already has perfected it. This also suggests the limited scope of human knowledge compared to divine wisdom; true understanding begins with recognizing and fearing God’s absolute power and authority over His creation and the span of time.
Ecclesiastes 3 14 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 3:14 provides a crucial anchor in the often perplexing quest for meaning described by the Preacher. It asserts a fundamental theological truth: God's works are perfect, eternal, and complete. They are not open to human modification, addition, or subtraction. This divine immutability contrasts sharply with the transience and futility that Qoheleth often observes "under the sun." The repetition "God does it" powerfully reinforces divine agency, emphasizing that this fixed reality originates solely from God's sovereign will and design, not human endeavor or philosophical insight. The ultimate purpose of this unchangeable divine order is to bring humanity into a posture of fear before Him. This fear is not terror, but a profound reverence, awe, and worshipful submission that acknowledges God's absolute power, wisdom, and control. In a world full of perplexing seasons and seemingly random events, the believer finds solace and direction in knowing that an unchanging, perfect God orchestrates all, requiring our humble trust and reverence rather than attempts to alter or control what He has already established.