Ecclesiastes 6 12

Ecclesiastes 6:12 kjv

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 nkjv

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 niv

For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 esv

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 nlt

In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?

Ecclesiastes 6 verses

Ecclesiastes 6 12 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 6:12 presents a foundational question regarding human existence and knowledge: Who among humanity truly knows what is beneficial or good for them throughout their brief, transient life, which passes as swiftly and insubstantially as a shadow? Furthermore, who possesses the foresight or wisdom to declare what will come to pass for a person after they are gone from this earthly realm, "under the sun"? This verse encapsulates the Preacher's profound skepticism concerning human capacity to grasp ultimate good or control their destiny, underscoring life's brevity, vanity, and the inherent limits of human knowledge regarding both the present and the future beyond one's immediate existence.

Ecclesiastes 6 12 Context

Ecclesiastes 6:12 serves as the concluding summary of a lengthy argument spanning chapters 5 and 6. Koheleth, the Preacher, has explored the emptiness and futility ("hevel") inherent in worldly pursuits such as wealth, status, hard work, and pleasure, especially when undertaken "under the sun" – that is, without God's explicit intervention or without a divine perspective. He notes that accumulating riches often leads to no satisfaction, but rather anxieties and an inability to truly enjoy them (Eccl 5:10-17). Even a long life and many descendants are worthless if one cannot truly enjoy one's portion and has an unsatisfied soul (Eccl 6:1-9). A stillborn child is argued to be better off than a person who lives long but cannot enjoy their wealth, because at least the stillborn finds rest (Eccl 6:3-6). The verse therefore sets a pessimistic tone concerning humanity's capacity to find inherent meaning or define true good through their own efforts, leading into the recognition of profound limitations that earthly wisdom and endeavor alone cannot overcome.

Ecclesiastes 6 12 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, linking this statement as a reason or explanation for the preceding arguments about the futility and unsatisfying nature of human life. It signifies a profound, encapsulating truth derived from the earlier observations.
• who knows (מִי יוֹדֵעַ - mi yode'a): A rhetorical question emphatically declaring that no one knows. Yode'a (knows) emphasizes intellectual comprehension and understanding. It underscores human ignorance regarding fundamental truths.
• what is good (מַה-טּוֹב - mah-tov): Tov means good, beneficial, advantageous, or morally right. This is a central philosophical quest for humanity throughout history, but Koheleth asserts its unknowability from an earthly, human-centered perspective. The term probes deeply into purpose and well-being.
• for a person (לָאָדָם - la'adam): Referring to humanity in general. This highlights the universal human condition and quest for meaning, making the question resonate with every individual.
• during life (בַּחַיִּים - ba'chayyim): Chayyim is the plural noun for life in Hebrew. This specifies the temporal scope: human life on earth, contrasting it implicitly with any transcendent or eternal existence.
• during the few days (מִסְפַּר יְמֵי - mispar yeme): Literally "the number of days." This phrase stresses the limited quantity of life. The implication of "few" is added by interpreters reflecting the transient nature emphasized elsewhere. It indicates countable, thus finite, time.
• of his futile life (חַיֵּי הֶבְלוֹ - chayyei havlo): Hevel is a cornerstone concept in Ecclesiastes, often translated as vanity, futility, emptiness, breath, or vapor. It conveys life's impermanence, lack of substance, and ultimately, its ultimate pointlessness when viewed solely "under the sun." This phrase points to the transient and ultimately disappointing nature of life without higher purpose.
• which he passes like a shadow (וְיַעֲשֶׂם צֵל - v'ya'asem tsel): Tsel (shadow) is a potent biblical metaphor for extreme transience, insubstantiality, and ephemerality. The verb ya'asem (and he makes them/spends them) suggests that one's fleeting days themselves become as fleeting as a shadow. This imagery reinforces that life is unsubstantial, leaving little lasting impact.
• For who can tell a person (כִּי מִי יַגִּיד לָאָדָם - ki mi yaggid la'adam): Reiterates the rhetorical question "who knows," emphasizing the human inability to disclose or predict. Yaggid means "he will tell/declare," denoting foresight and authoritative knowledge.
• what will happen after him (מַה-יִּהְיֶה אַחֲרָיו - mah-yihyeh acharayv): This refers to the events and outcomes that will transpire after one's death. It extends the previous question beyond one's own lived experience, focusing on one's legacy, the fate of one's labors, or the consequences of one's existence. This is unknowable for the living.
• under the sun (תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ - tachat ha'shamesh): A hallmark phrase of Ecclesiastes, referring to all earthly affairs and observations, limited to the visible, material world, and human experience apart from direct divine revelation. It defines the Preacher's scope of investigation, indicating that his conclusions are derived from empirical human observation, rather than divine revelation or eternal perspective.

Ecclesiastes 6 12 Bonus section

The deep philosophical questions posed in Eccl 6:12 concerning the nature of "good" and the unknowability of the future underscore a core tension in Koheleth's search. The "good" here isn't necessarily a moral good, but rather that which brings lasting happiness, satisfaction, and meaning. Koheleth implies that a purely human, self-referential search for this "good" "under the sun" will inevitably fall short. The emphasis on human ignorance and transience implicitly points towards the need for divine wisdom and revelation. While Koheleth does not fully reveal this answer until the conclusion of the book (Eccl 12:13-14), this verse lays crucial groundwork by exposing the severe limitations of a secular, human-centric worldview, contrasting it implicitly with the infinite knowledge and purpose available through God. This intellectual journey from despair to wisdom is central to the book's message.

Ecclesiastes 6 12 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 6:12 serves as a pivotal summary of Koheleth's earthly observations on the meaninglessness of life outside a God-centered perspective. The verse powerfully articulates humanity's double ignorance: first, an inability to genuinely discern what is truly beneficial or good during their brief, shadowy existence; and second, a complete lack of foresight into what will happen after their death. Life is characterized by "hevel" (futility), brevity ("few days"), and insubstantiality ("like a shadow"), mocking human efforts to establish lasting worth or understand their purpose independently. This profound questioning strips away human presumption of control or ultimate wisdom, ultimately setting the stage for the book's later turn towards acknowledging divine sovereignty and the fear of God as the true foundation of life's meaning.