Ecclesiastes 9 11

Ecclesiastes 9:11 kjv

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 nkjv

I returned and saw under the sun that? The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 niv

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 esv

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 nlt

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9 verses

Ecclesiastes 9 11 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 9:11 states that in life's race, skill, speed, strength, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge do not guarantee success, victory, provision, wealth, or favor. Instead, outcomes are subject to "time and chance," meaning events unfold unpredictably from a human perspective, under the overarching sovereignty of God. This observation underscores the Preacher's consistent theme of the futility of human striving "under the sun" when outcomes are ultimately beyond human control and wisdom. It challenges the conventional wisdom that diligently applied virtues automatically lead to desired results, pointing to a world where divine providence often operates in inscrutable ways.

Ecclesiastes 9 11 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 9 is part of the Preacher's ongoing reflections on the meaning of life "under the sun." In the preceding verses (1-10), he reiterates the universal common destiny of both the righteous and the wicked: death. This leads to an exhortation to enjoy life's simple pleasures, for "there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going." Verse 11 shifts slightly from the certainty of death to the uncertainty of outcomes before death. It reinforces the idea that even during one's lifetime, despite all human attributes and efforts, life remains largely unpredictable. The Preacher often counters human presumptions of control, wisdom, or fairness, asserting divine inscrutability. This verse serves as a crucial theological anchor, grounding human existence in the unpredictable currents of divine providence rather than solely on human merit or striving, which echoes earlier sentiments about the vanity of labor and the limits of wisdom (Ecc 1:3; 2:11-16). It also stands against the simplistic retribution theology prevalent in some ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, which suggested that good deeds invariably lead to good outcomes and vice versa.

Ecclesiastes 9 11 Word analysis

• "I returned" (שַׁבְתִּי, shavti): From shuv (שׁוּב), meaning to turn, return, or go back. Indicates Qoheleth's re-examination or a renewed observation of the world, suggesting a reflective, empirical process. He is reconsidering and confirming a pattern he observes in life.
• "and saw" (וְרָאֹה, v'ra'oh): From ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning to see, perceive, understand. It denotes direct, personal observation and contemplation of how life actually unfolds, not just theory.
• "under the sun" (תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, tachat ha-shemesh): A characteristic phrase in Ecclesiastes (appears 29 times). It limits the Preacher's perspective to life as experienced in the earthly realm, excluding divine revelation or a supernatural dimension. This highlights the observations made purely from a human, worldly viewpoint.
• "the race" (לַקַּלִּים מֵרוֹץ, la-qalîm mērôṣ): mērôṣ means a course, running, race. La-qalîm refers to the "swift." This refers to competitive human endeavors, like an athletic contest or a military campaign, where speed is crucial. The Preacher notes that speed alone doesn't guarantee victory.
• "is not to the swift": This counters the intuitive belief that the fastest person or group wins. It indicates a disconnection between natural ability and ultimate success.
• "nor the battle to the strong" (לַגִּבֹּרִים מִלְחָמָה, la-gibôrîm milḥāmâ): Milḥāmâ is battle, war. Gibborîm refers to mighty, strong, valiant ones. Despite superior might or military prowess, victory in battle is not guaranteed, highlighting the unpredictability of conflict.
• "nor bread to the wise" (לַחֲכָמִים לֶחֶם, la-ḥakhamîm leḥem): Leḥem means bread, sustenance, food. Ḥakhamîm are the wise ones. Wisdom, often associated with provision and success in Israelite culture, doesn't always ensure even basic sustenance. It directly challenges the common notion that wisdom naturally leads to prosperity.
• "nor riches to men of understanding" (לַנְּבֹנִים עֹשֶׁר, la-nevônîm osher): Osher is riches, wealth. Nevônîm refers to intelligent, discerning, understanding people. Intelligence or astute judgment does not automatically lead to wealth.
• "nor favor to men of skill" (לַיֹּדְעִים חֵן, layyōḏ'îm ḥēn): Ḥēn is favor, grace, charm, acceptance. Yōḏ'îm refers to those who know, are skillful, or have knowledge/expertise. Even skilled and knowledgeable individuals do not always receive the recognition or opportunity they might deserve.
• "but time" (כִּי עֵת, kî ‘ēt): ‘Ēt implies an appointed or opportune time, a season, or a moment. It points to a temporal factor, a divinely determined moment or circumstance. It's not about linear passage of time but the specific timing of events.
• "and chance" (וָפֶגַע, vāfeḡa‘): Peḡa‘ means a chance occurrence, accident, a happening, often with a negative connotation like mishap or misfortune. This term does not necessarily mean random in a chaotic sense but highlights the unpredictable and unforeseeable nature of events from a human perspective. Within Ecclesiastes' theology, what appears as "chance" to humans is still often under God's mysterious hand, not arbitrary in a godless universe.
• "happen to them all" (יִקְרֶה אֶת־כֻּלָּם, yiqreh ’et-kullām): From qarah (קָרָה), to meet, encounter, befall, happen. It implies an inevitable encounter or an experience that befalls everyone universally, irrespective of their virtues or efforts. No one is exempt from these unpredictable factors.

Ecclesiastes 9 11 Bonus section

The Hebrew terms ‘ēt (time) and peḡa‘ (chance/occurrence) are crucial. ‘Ēt often denotes an appointed, specific time, potentially implying divine appointment, as seen throughout Ecclesiastes 3. Peḡa‘ points to that which unexpectedly "strikes" or "encounters" one, seemingly by accident from a human viewpoint. However, in the context of broader biblical theology, even such seemingly random occurrences are often understood as permitted or directed by God. Qoheleth, through this observation, is challenging the strict cause-and-effect relationship proposed by some wisdom traditions of his day (and still today) – where moral behavior guarantees reward and evil guarantees punishment. He shows that under the sun, life's experience frequently defies this simplistic formula, compelling deeper reflection on God's mysterious ways. This theological tension emphasizes that while humans are responsible for their actions, they are not solely responsible for the outcomes of those actions. God’s sovereign rule, which includes the unpredictable factors of timing and "chance," ultimately governs all things.

Ecclesiastes 9 11 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 9:11 delivers a stark message about the limitations of human endeavor and perceived merit. It's a forceful argument against a purely works-based or self-reliant worldview. The Preacher systematically dismantles the common belief that certain human attributes – be it speed, strength, wisdom, understanding, or skill – automatically guarantee desired outcomes like victory, sustenance, wealth, or favor. This is a critical theological assertion in the book of Ecclesiastes. It combats human pride and self-sufficiency, suggesting that life is fundamentally not a meritocracy from a human vantage point.

The core reason given for this unpredictability is "time and chance." This doesn't endorse fatalism or a godless universe where things merely happen randomly. Instead, it reflects the Preacher's understanding that God's providence is often hidden and mysterious to human beings. What seems like an "accident" or a fortunate "timing" to us is, from a biblical perspective, still within the scope of divine sovereignty, even if its rationale is beyond human comprehension (Isa 55:8-9). This verse serves as a reminder that ultimately, outcomes are determined by factors outside human control. It leads to humility, challenging the individual to acknowledge divine authority over circumstances. While effort and diligence are good, they are not ultimate determinants. The Preacher is pushing his audience to look beyond worldly means for true stability and purpose, implicitly hinting that true wisdom is in fearing God and keeping His commandments (Ecc 12:13), for He alone orchestrates "time and chance."

Practical applications include:

• Humility: Recognizing that personal effort, though important, does not guarantee success.
• Resilience: Understanding that setbacks are not necessarily a reflection of lack of effort or skill.
• Trust in God: Shifting reliance from human abilities or statistical probability to divine providence.