Ecclesiastes 6:10 kjv
That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 nkjv
Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 niv
Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 esv
Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 nlt
Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny.
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 46:9-10 | "...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me...declaring the end from the beginning..." | God's foreknowledge & sovereign declaration. |
| Psa 139:1-6 | "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ...you discern my thoughts from afar." | God's exhaustive knowledge of humans. |
| Job 9:12 | "Behold, he snatches away; who can restrain him? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'" | Futility of questioning God's actions. |
| Rom 9:19-21 | "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its mold er, 'Why have you made me like this?'" | Human inability to contend with Creator. |
| Heb 4:13 | "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him..." | God's complete knowledge of all creation. |
| Job 42:2 | "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." | God's omnipotence and unchangeable purpose. |
| Pro 16:4 | "The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." | Divine design and purpose in creation. |
| Dan 4:35 | "...he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand..." | God's absolute sovereignty over all realms. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | "...for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought." | God's intimate knowledge of human internal world. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things..." | God's eternal plan includes predestination. |
| Acts 15:18 | "Known to God from eternity are all His works." | God's works are eternally known to Him. |
| Isa 45:9 | "Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter!" | Rebuke against challenging God's authority. |
| Ecc 1:9 | "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." | Repetitive nature of reality under divine decree. |
| Ecc 3:14-15 | "I perceived that whatever God does endures forever...what is, already has been; what is to be, already has been..." | God's unchanging and enduring works. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever..." | God's will stands, human plans fail. |
| Job 40:2 | "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God must answer it!" | God's challenge to Job regarding His might. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the Lord do not change..." | God's unchangeable nature implies fixed decrees. |
| Psa 115:3 | "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." | God's unconstrained power and will. |
| Jer 10:23 | "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Human inability to control their own path. |
| Job 23:13 | "But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does." | God's unalterable will and purpose. |
| Psa 103:19 | "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all." | God's absolute universal dominion. |
| 1 Cor 1:25 | "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." | God's supremacy transcends human understanding. |
| Jas 4:13-15 | "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there... 'You do not know what tomorrow will bring.' " | Humility required recognizing future's uncertainty for humans, known to God. |
Ecclesiastes 6 verses
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 6:10 conveys a profound truth about divine sovereignty and human limitation. It declares that everything that exists or will exist is already predetermined and understood by God from eternity. Humanity's nature, place, and even destiny are known and fixed in His eternal counsel. Consequently, it is futile and impossible for any person to dispute or contend with God, who is infinitely mightier and sovereign over all creation and time.
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Context
Ecclesiastes 6 continues Koheleth's exploration of life "under the sun," highlighting the vanity and vexation associated with striving for material gain, status, and pleasure without a true satisfaction derived from God. The preceding verses (6:1-9) lament the futility of wealth that cannot be enjoyed, the misfortune of one who never finds fulfillment, and the ultimate advantage of a stillborn child over a person who lives long but finds no good in life. The central theme is that human labor and longing, pursued independently of God, are often empty. Verse 6:10 further emphasizes humanity's limited place within a divinely ordered reality. It undergirds the futility by positing that everything is already "named" or ordained, and humans, known by God for their inherent limitations, are powerless to alter their fundamental condition or dispute God's will. This realization is meant to humble humanity and point towards the ultimate source of meaning found beyond earthly pursuits. The book of Ecclesiastes, as wisdom literature, often provides counter-cultural perspectives to common beliefs about human autonomy, prosperity, and the pursuit of earthly desires. It subtly critiques the notion that humans are masters of their own destiny, positioning God as the supreme and unchallengeable sovereign.
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Word analysis
- Whatever has been (מַה־שֶּׁהָיָה - mah-sheh-hayah): This phrase denotes all that has come into existence, all past events, and also the inherent nature of things that continue to be. The Hebrew hayah signifies "to be, to exist, to happen." This points to the established order of creation and the course of history, which are not arbitrary but predetermined. It implies an unfolding divine plan, already set.
- is already named (כְּבָר קוֹרָא שְׁמוֹ - k'var kora' sh'mo): The act of "naming" in the ancient world (especially biblically) signifies authority, identification, definition, ownership, and often the decreeing of purpose or destiny. For example, God names Adam, names the stars (Psa 147:4), and declares things before they come into being (Isa 46:10). This means that the essence, purpose, and reality of all things are not accidental but have been determined and established by the divine power long ago, known and set by God.
- and what man is known (וְנוֹדַע אָדָם - ve'noda adam): This means that the nature of humanity, including our limitations, vulnerabilities, and ultimately our mortal destiny, is fully and perfectly understood by God. Noda implies a deep, experiential knowing. This isn't just a surface acquaintance but a profound insight into the human condition from the Creator's perspective. Our existence and character are not hidden from Him.
- neither may he contend (וְלֹא־יוּכַל לָרִיב - ve'lo yuchal la'riv): Lo yuchal means "he is not able," highlighting a lack of power or capacity. La'riv means "to strive, contend, dispute, or litigate." This phrase signifies that a human being lacks any power or legitimate grounds to argue, fight against, or question the decrees of God or His ultimate sovereignty. It implies utter helplessness in the face of divine power.
- with Him that is mightier than he (עִם־שֶׁחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ - im she'chazak mimenu): This refers directly to God, the Creator. Chazak means "strong, mighty, powerful." The phrase emphasizes God's immeasurable strength and absolute power in comparison to the weakness and finite nature of humanity. There is no possibility of victory, or even effective opposition, against the One who holds all power and defines all reality.
Words-group analysis:
- "Whatever has been is already named, and what man is known": This first part highlights divine foreknowledge, predestination, and intimate understanding of creation and humanity. It underscores that all reality is shaped by God's eternal decree. The emphasis is on divine omniscience and omnipotence establishing all things.
- "neither may he contend with Him that is mightier than he": This second part draws the conclusion from the first, stating the utter futility of human beings attempting to resist, question, or change God's established order. It stresses humanity's subordinate position and the insurmountable power of the Almighty, against whom no argument or struggle can prevail.
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Bonus section
The emphasis on "what has been is already named" and "what man is known" presents a profound theological concept that touches on divine foreordination and the nature of reality within God's absolute sovereignty. It suggests that nothing is left to chance in the grand scheme of creation and providence. This idea, while potentially challenging for discussions around free will if taken to an extreme, within the context of Koheleth, is primarily meant to deflate human arrogance and misplaced hope in self-sufficiency. It directly challenges the common human desire to control destiny or understand all mysteries, stating that the blueprint of existence, including human life, is an open book to God, and fully designed by Him. This divine power contrasts sharply with the contemporary polytheistic beliefs of Koheleth's time, where gods often squabbled, and humans might seek to manipulate them. Here, there is one supreme God, unchallengeable and all-knowing. For Koheleth, embracing this truth can lead not to fatalism, but to a release from the anxiety of vain striving, fostering peace in God's ultimate control.
Ecclesiastes 6 10 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 6:10 encapsulates Koheleth's central theme of human limitation and the sovereignty of God, urging a realistic understanding of humanity's place in the cosmos. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that our past, present, and even future are not arbitrary but woven into the fabric of a divine plan known fully by God. Every aspect of existence has been named and decreed by Him, establishing His authoritative ownership and defining essence for all things. Similarly, humanity, in all its frailty and pretense, is perfectly known by the Almighty, down to its very nature and destiny. The logical conclusion is the absolute impossibility for any human to effectively contend with God, who is overwhelmingly mightier. Any attempt to dispute His wisdom, alter His decrees, or assert independent control over life's outcomes is depicted as futile and a profound act of spiritual folly. This truth encourages humility, submission, and ultimately points towards finding contentment and wisdom not in earthly pursuits or self-assertion, but in acknowledging and aligning with the unchangeable will of the all-powerful Creator.