Ecclesiastes 6:1 kjv
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
Ecclesiastes 6:1 nkjv
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
Ecclesiastes 6:1 niv
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind:
Ecclesiastes 6:1 esv
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:
Ecclesiastes 6:1 nlt
There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity.
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 2:26 | To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. | Divine control over enjoyment of wealth |
| Ecc 5:13-14 | There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches are kept by their owner to his hurt... | Riches can harm, not bring good |
| Ecc 5:19-20 | Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them... | Enjoyment is a gift from God |
| Ecc 6:2 | A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a foreigner consumes them; this is vanity and a severe evil. | Explains the specific "evil" introduced in 6:1: inability to enjoy blessings |
| Ecc 8:6-7 | For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person’s trouble lies heavy on him... | Troubles and burdens are common human experience |
| Job 5:7 | For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. | Humanity is naturally prone to suffering and trouble |
| Ps 39:5-6 | You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they bustle about... | The transient and vain nature of human life and efforts |
| Ps 49:10-12 | For he sees that even the wise die; the foolish and the senseless perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwelling places for generations, though they had named lands after themselves. | Futility of striving for worldly inheritance without lasting meaning |
| Ps 106:15 | So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. | Receiving desire without true satisfaction/blessing |
| Pro 15:27 | He who is greedy for gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. | Connection between wrong gain and trouble |
| Isa 57:20-21 | But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." | Lack of rest/peace, echoing a state of internal turmoil common to those not rightly aligned with God |
| Lam 3:39 | Why should any living mortal complain when punished for their sins? | Suffering as a consequence or a given in human condition |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... | Counter-perspective: earthly accumulation is subject to decay/loss |
| Lk 12:16-21 | And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest... "Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" | Parable of the rich fool: wealth without life beyond, similar to inability to enjoy and legacy loss |
| 1 Tim 6:7-10 | For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil... | Warning against love of money and its potential for trouble, not just enjoying blessings |
| Jas 4:13-16 | Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city... "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. | The uncertainty of life and the futility of human plans without acknowledging God |
| 1 Jn 2:16-17 | For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. | "Under the sun" pleasures are temporary, contrasting with enduring spiritual values |
| Rom 8:20-22 | For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. | Universal futility and groaning due to the Fall, aligns with "evil" and "under the sun" perspective |
| Php 4:11-13 | I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... I can do all this through him who gives me strength. | Contentment in all circumstances as a spiritual gift, contrasting inability to enjoy/trouble |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." | God's provision and presence offer true contentment beyond material possessions |
| Pro 14:12 | There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. | The Preacher's "evil" is a "way" of life, seemingly good but ultimately fruitless and leading to a form of 'death' in terms of enjoyment and peace. |
| Mal 3:11 | I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed... | Divine blessing leading to enjoyment of labor, contrasting the curse where one cannot enjoy. |
Ecclesiastes 6 verses
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 6:1 points to a widespread and grievous problem observed in human experience: an "evil" or troubling reality that is common to many. This "evil" is not necessarily a moral wrong, but a profound and painful misfortune or calamity. The Preacher introduces a condition where the seeming advantages of life, such as wealth and blessings, fail to provide true satisfaction or enjoyment, highlighting a pervasive affliction "under the sun"—meaning from a human perspective on earth.
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Context
Ecclesiastes 6:1 serves as a thesis statement for the argument that immediately follows in chapter 6, and a deepening of the Preacher's exploration of futility "under the sun." It picks up themes from chapters 4 and 5, particularly the observations about injustices, rivalry, the vanity of endless toil, and the inherent uncertainty of wealth. While chapter 5 examined the elusive nature of wealth (loss, insatiability, ungrateful heirs), chapter 6:1 sets the stage for a specific, painful paradox: God giving a person vast resources, yet withholding the ability to truly enjoy them. The historical and cultural context for this period (post-exilic Judah, possibly Persian influence) included various perspectives on wealth – some tied it to divine favor, others emphasized hard work. The Preacher’s argument cuts across these, suggesting that even immense material prosperity does not guarantee genuine satisfaction, revealing a common "evil" in the human condition, often unperceived by those chasing fleeting gains. This message could be seen as a quiet polemic against overly simplistic views that equate wealth with unqualified divine blessing or human wisdom alone.
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Word analysis
There is an evil:
- Hebrew: רָע (ra'). While ra' often translates as "evil" in a moral sense, its usage here, contextually supported by Ecc 6:2, refers to a painful calamity, a grievous misfortune, or a frustrating problem/affliction. It's an unpleasant reality or severe drawback rather than a sinful act. It represents an undesirable outcome or condition.
- Significance: Highlights that life's difficulties are not always results of moral failure, but sometimes inherent paradoxical burdens of existence.
which I have seen:
- Hebrew: רָאִיתִי (ra'iti). "I have seen" signifies personal observation and experience, emphasizing the Preacher's wisdom derived from keen awareness of human life. It implies direct evidence, not mere speculation.
- Significance: Lends authority and weight to the Preacher's declaration, rooted in empirical study.
under the sun:
- Hebrew: תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ (taḥat haššemeš). This recurring phrase (appearing almost 30 times in Ecclesiastes) denotes existence within the earthly realm, human perspective, or life lived apart from divine revelation or eternal perspective. It describes the scope of Koheleth's observations.
- Significance: It frames the problem as part of the limited, terrestrial human condition, distinct from any transcendent or divine viewpoint.
and it is common among men:
- Hebrew: רַבָּה הִיא עַל־הָאָדָם (rabbah hi 'al-ha'adam). Literally, "great (or abundant) it is upon man." It indicates prevalence, being widespread, and perhaps also a heavy burden upon humanity. "Common" implies it affects a large portion of humanity.
- Significance: This problem isn't isolated or rare; it's a fundamental aspect of human experience "under the sun." It underscores the universality of this affliction, deepening its sense of lament.
Words-group analysis:
- "There is an evil... under the sun": This coupling defines the scope and nature of the problem. It is an unpleasant reality experienced within the confines of mortal life, not an abstract theological construct. It introduces a specific, observed human failing.
- "which I have seen... and it is common among men": These phrases confirm the observation's basis in widespread human experience. It is not an individual quirk or an isolated incident, but a deeply embedded and recurrent feature of life. This elevates the concern from a personal anecdote to a general human condition.
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Bonus section
The "evil" presented here by the Preacher, understood as a calamitous situation or misfortune rather than moral depravity, implicitly points to the effects of the Fall on creation (Gen 3). Even the blessings intended for humanity can be corrupted or lose their intrinsic goodness, making human experience frequently one of struggle, dissatisfaction, and an inability to grasp lasting joy. This highlights the inherent brokenness of the world "under the sun" where all human striving can ultimately prove futile without divine favor to grant "the power to enjoy." This "evil" demonstrates that human agency and wisdom, when unguided or unblessed by God, often fall short of their intended fulfillment.
Ecclesiastes 6 1 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 6:1 succinctly introduces a major theme for the chapter: the ironic and deeply frustrating situation where material blessing does not lead to genuine enjoyment. The "evil" or grievance is not moral failure, but the inherent flaw within earthly prosperity itself—the inability of the recipient to truly benefit from what they have acquired. This phenomenon is termed "under the sun" as it's a stark reality from a purely human, material perspective, distinct from divine providence. It's "common among men," signifying its pervasive nature, affecting many across society. This reality highlights the Preacher's consistent message that true satisfaction is elusive if not anchored in divine grace and proper perspective, beyond the transient achievements of this life. For example, a person may inherit vast wealth or build a prosperous business, yet be afflicted by illness, a consuming addiction, an ungrateful family, or a constant anxiety that prevents any real pleasure from their riches.