Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 6:11
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better?
11. there be many things that increase vanity ] The Hebrew noun, as so often throughout the book, may stand either for things or words. In the former case, the maxim points to the pressure of affairs, what we call “business,” the cares about many things, which make men feel the hollowness of life. In the latter, it probably refers to the speculative discussions on the chief good, destiny, and the like, which were rife in the schools both of Jews and Greeks, and finds a parallel in ch. Ecc 12:12, and in Milton’s description of like debates, as to
“Fixed fate, free will, fore-knowledge absolute;
Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.”
The latter fits in best with the explanation which refers the previous verse to the Divine decrees, the former with that which has been adopted here.
what is man the better ] Literally, what profit (the word is another form of that which occurs so frequently), what outcome, is there for man?
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Things – Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preachers personal experience, and his observation of other people, ending with the comprehensive declaration in Ecc 6:10 to the effect that vanity is an essential part of the constitution of creation as it now exists, and was foreknown.
What is man the better? – Rather, what is profitable to man?
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
This seems to be added as a conclusion of the disputation managed in all the foregoing chapters,
Seeing not only man is a vain creature in himself, as hath been now said, but there are also many other things in the world, which instead of removing or diminishing, as might be expected, do but increase this vanity, as wisdom, pleasure, power, wealth, and the like, the vanity of all which hath been fully and particularly declared. Seeing even the good things of this life bring so much toil, and cares, and fears, &c. with them.
What is man the better, to wit, by all that he can either desire or enjoy here? Hence it is evident that all these things cannot make him happy, but that he must seek for happiness elsewhere.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. “Seeing” that mancannot escape from the “vanity,” which by God’s “mighty”will is inherent in earthly things, and cannot call in questionGod’s wisdom in these dispensations (equivalent to “contend,”&c.),
what is man the betterofthese vain things as regards the chief good? None whatever.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity,…. As appears by all that has been said in this and the preceding chapters; such as wisdom and knowledge, wealth and riches, pleasure, power, and authority. Man is a poor vain creature himself, all he is and has is vanity; and these serve but to increase it, and make him vainer and vainer still;
what [is] man the better? for these things? not at all, rather the worse, being more vain; there is no profit by them, no excellency arises to him from them, no happiness in them, nothing that will be of any service to him, especially with respect to a future state, or when he comes to die. It may be rendered, as it is in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, “seeing there are many words that multiply vanity”; as all such words do that are used with God by way of murmur and complaint concerning a man’s lot and condition in this world, and as expostulating and contending with him about it; these increase sin, and by them men contract more guilt, and therefore are not the better for such litigations, but the worse; and so the words stand in connection with Ec 6:10: but the former sense seems best, this being the conclusion of the wise man’s discourse concerning vanity. So the Targum and Jarchi understand it of things, and not words.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“For there are many words which increase vanity: What cometh forth therefrom for man?” The dispute (objection), , takes place in words; here will thus not mean “things” (Hengst., Ginsb., Zckl., Bullock, etc.), but “words.” As that wrestling or contending against God’s decision and providence is vain and worthless, nothing else remains for man but to be submissive, and to acknowledge his limitation by the fear of God; thus there are also many words which only increase yet more the multitude of vanities already existing in this world, for, because they are resultless, they bring no advantage for man. Rightly, Elster finds herein a hint pointing to the influence of the learning of the Jewish schools already existing in Koheleth ‘s time. We know from Josephus that the problem of human freedom and of God’s absoluteness was a point of controversy between opposing parties: the Sadducees so emphasized human freedom, that they not only excluded ( Antt. xiii. 5. 9; Bell. ii. 8. 14) all divine predetermination, but also co-operation; the Pharisees, on the contrary supposed an interconnection between divine predetermination ( ) and human freedom ( Antt. xiii. 5. 9, xviii. 1. 3; Bell. ii. 8. 14). The Talm. affords us a glance at this controversy; but the statement in the Talm. (in Berachoth 33 a, and elsewhere), which conditions all by the power of God manifesting itself in history, but defends the freedom of the religious-moral self-determination of man, may be regarded as a Pharisaic maxim. In Rom 9, Paul places himself on this side; and the author of the Book of Koheleth would subscribe this passage as his testimony, for the “fear God” is the “ kern und stern ” kernel and star of his pessimistic book.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Insatiableness of Desire. | |
11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 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?
Here, 1. Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are abundance of accidents that concur to make it more so; even that which pretends to increase the vanity and make it more vexatious. 2. He draws some inferences from it, which serve further to evince the truth of it. (1.) That a man is never the nearer to true happiness for the abundance that he has in this world: What is man the better for his wealth and pleasure, his honour and preferment? What remains to man? What residuum has he, what overplus, what real advantage, when he comes to balance his accounts? Nothing that will do him any good or turn to account. (2.) That we do not know what to wish for, because that which we promise ourselves most satisfaction in often proves most vexatious to us: Who knows what is good for a man in this life, where every thing is vanity, and any thing, even that which we most covet, may prove a calamity to us? Thoughtful people are in care to do every thing for the best, if they knew it; but as it is an instance of the corruption of our hearts that we are apt to desire that as good for us which is really hurtful, as children that cry for knives to cut their fingers with, so is it an instance of the vanity of this world that what, according to all probable conjectures, seems to be for the best, often proves otherwise; such is our shortsightedness concerning the issues and events of things, and such broken reeds are all our creature-confidences. We know not how to advise others for the best, nor how to act ourselves, because that which we apprehend likely to be for our welfare may become a trap. (3.) That therefore our life upon earth is what we have no reason to take any great complacency in, or to be confident of the continuance of. It is to be reckoned by days; it is but a vain life, and we spend it as a shadow, so little is there in it substantial, so fleeting, so uncertain, so transitory is it, and so little in it to be fond of or to be depended on. If all the comforts of life be vanity, life itself can have no great reality in it to constitute a happiness for us. (4.) That our expectations from this world are as uncertain and deceitful as our enjoyments are. Since every thing is vanity, Who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? He can no more please himself with the hopes of what shall be after him, to his children and family, than with the relish of what is with him, since he can neither foresee himself, nor can any one else foretel to him, what shall be after him. Nor shall he have any intelligence sent him of it when he is gone. His sons come to honour, and he knows it not. So that, look which way we will, Vanity of vanity, all is vanity.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
QUESTIONS WITHOUT HUMAN ANSWER
Verses 11-12 further emphasize the vanity of life under the sun, by unanswered questions: 1) In what way is man better under the sun? 2) Who under the sun knows what is good for man in this life? and 3) Who can tell what shall be after life under the sun? Ecc 8:7; Ecc 9:12; Ecc 10:14; Pro 27:1; Jas 4:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Ecc. 6:6. Do not all go to one place?] All go to Schoolthe house of assembly of all living (Job. 30:23). There all arrive equally poor; nor is the chance afforded them to regain what they have failed to enjoy on earth.
Ecc. 6:7. The appetite is not filled] The deep wants of the inner man are not satisfied, though the sensual part of him may lack nothing of indulgence.
Ecc. 6:8. Knoweth to walk before the living] Knows how to walk accurately by the proper rule of life. Thus St. PaulSee that ye walk circumspectly, i.e., accurately, Eph. 5:15.
Ecc. 6:9. Better is the sight of the eyes] The enjoyment of what is before usour eyes resting contentedly on our lot.
Ecc. 6:10. That which hath been is named already] Whatever happens has happened before, and long ago received its name; i.e., the nature of it was accurately described and known in the plan of God. And it is known that it is man] Lit., Adam. There is a play upon the name. Man is known to be what he really is, Adam, i.e., man from earth. Mightier than he] He cannot contend with the All Powerful One.
Ecc. 6:11. Increase vanity] All that tends to strengthen the impression of vanity.
Ecc. 6:12. What is good for man in this life] What kind of lot is the best; seeing that all is uncertain, and the future is concealed. After him] The meaning isnot after his death, but after his present condition. The force of the question iswho can tell what is the next thing that will happen to him, or through what changes of fortune he may be called to pass?
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Ecc. 6:11-12
THREE OPPRESSIONS OF HUMANITY
I. The Oppression of fruitless Toil after Happiness. (Ecc. 6:11.) Some fancied good ever lies before us, but we are doomedif we have no resource but earthly wisdom or contrivanceto toil after it in vain.
1. Every advance we make only increases the sources of annoyance. As we pass from the possession of one seeming good to another, in this life, our brief happiness receives successive impulses; and we indulge the hope of enjoying in peace the rewards of endurance and conflict. But when we have gained what we sought after, and the gifts of life are multiplied, and the objects of our ambition secured, we find that at the same time there is generated for us an increase of vanity and vexationa more complicated misery. Riches bring cares; honour and fame set a man up as a mark for envy, and make him feel more keenly the pain of wounded pride.
2. In the best conditions of earthly happiness, there is a craving for some unpossessed good. Men never attain to the end of their desiresnever reach a state of satisfaction and reposethe goal ever lies beyond them. There is no anchor to stay the soul on the troubled sea of life but immortal hope, and those who have it not drift in danger and in fear. They have no safe harbour where they can be sheltered till the indignation be overpast. This fruitless toil after happiness is one of the oppressions of man. It is that burden of vanity under which the creation groans, and which only God himself can lift from the soul.
II. The Oppression of Ignorance. (Ecc. 6:12.) The empire of human knowledge expands from age to age, but the great problems of existence still remain unsolved. All our investigation, all our labour of speculative thought only pushes the mystery further back into the darkness. The unknown is ever the terrible; and darkness is not only the deprivation of light, but also the region of fear and terror. The imagination paints horrid forms where the eye can no longer see. This ignorance is considered here under two forms.
1. Ignorance of the best conditions of happiness. If we have only the wisdom of this world to direct us, it is hard to tell what state of life, on the whole, is the best. Every condition has some disadvantage, and it is difficult to strike the balance. Humanity without the light and comfort of religion must remain in ignorance of that most concerning question, how can the soul be happy in all the scenes and changes through which it is called to pass? Even spiritual men must feel that there are aspects of human life, the contemplation of which, for the present, is not without pain. They also must wait for the clearing up of mystery. This burden of ignorance presses upon all; some are sustained under it by faith and hope, to the rest it is an intolerable loada weariness and vexation.
2. Ignorance of the future. A man cannot tell what shall be after him. He knows not what shall occur in his own immediate circle, or in the broader field of history. The intellect is equal to the task of framing principles which future history will be certain to illustrate. The spiritual man knows that certain great moral truths will be vindicated through all the events of the future. But what those events shall be in their number, variety, and special issues, no human sagacity can foresee. That part of the roll of history which is still to be unfolded by time, is hidden from us, and our keenest vision cannot read the writing there. In front of the darkness and uncertainty lying before us, we can only utter the cry, Who can tell?
III. The Oppression of Weakness. Mans life is vain, and he spends it as a shadow. There is no enduring substance in itno power of defence against the terrible forces which threaten, and will in the end overwhelm it.
1. This weakness is felt in our utter helplessness before the great troubles and disasters of life. In the time of prosperity, when the love of life is strong, and the enjoyment of it keen, we may glory in the conscious possession of power. But our triumph is short and when a great trouble arises, we feel how weak we are. All our science and skill can raise no permanent defence against disease, nor hold us back from going down one of the many paths to death. Wealth and grandeur are no defence in the day of trouble. The grim realities of existence mock at our poor refuges and sweep them ruthlessly away.
2. This weakness is a cause of sadness and misery to humanity. To feel ourselves strong is a happinessa grateful assurance for the mind. While we have plentiful reserves of strength, there is a consciousness of security which is pure enjoyment. But to be weak is to be miserableto feel ourselves the sport of every unfriendly power. The weakness of man revealed to him by misfortune, suffering, and death is one of the saddest burdens of the race. The Gospel makes a gracious provision for humanity oppressed by these three burdens.
1. Christ offers rest to those who weary themselves for very vanity.
2. Christ promises to dispel the darkness of this present state. He makes duty the condition of the higher revelation; through goodness, man reaches that splendour where all is clear.
3. Christ arms the soul with His own strength. That soul whom He strengthens can fear no foe. He who is joined to the highest is as secure as the throne of God.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Ecc. 6:11. What the better is man of that reputation which only makes him more envied? What the better is he of that wealth which only makes him obnoxious to plots and dangers? What the better of that philosophy which, like a taper on the face of a midnight cliff, only shows how beetling is the brow above him, and how profound the gulf below, whilst he himself is crawling a wingless reptile on the ever-narrowing ledge? What the better is acquirement, when, after all, mans intellect, mans conscience, mans affections, must remain a vast and unappeasable vacuity? [Dr. J. Hamilton.]
In our anxiety to get rid of the burden of vanity by new diversions, pursuits, and acquirements, we only make that burden the heavier, and condemn ourselves to the grief of failure.
The boasted improvements of reason, while they enlarge our view and refine our taste, at the same time serve to render the sense of misery more acute.
No imagined change in the external conditions of a mans life can make any radical improvement of his real self.
The diseases of the human spirit are inveterate. Not only are we not healed by the physicians who undertake our case, but we grow worse under their hands. We can only be healed by a miracle of grace.
Ecc. 6:12. What we often looked forward to as a source of great good has turned out to be a great evil. The sages have failed so often in the experiment of determining the best conditions of happiness, that there can be no certain knowledge except by Revelation. Faith alone can heal the sorrows of the mind.
The voice of complaint and distress is heard from every position in the social scale. In the face of this fact, who can tell, on merely human principles, what is best for man?
It is a vain life, and all its days a shadow. A shadow is the nearest thing to a nullity. It is seldom noticed. Even a vapour in the firmamenta cloud, may catch the eye, and in watching its changing hues or figure, you may find the amusement of a moment; and if that cloud condense into a shower, a few fields may thank it for its timely refreshment. But a shadowthe shadow of a vapour! who notes it? Who records it?. But Jesus Christ hath brought immortality to light. This fleeting life He has rendered important as a shadow from the rock eternity. In His own teaching, and in the teaching of His Apostles, the present existence acquires a fearful consequence as the germ, or rather as the outset of one which is never ending. To their view, this existence is both everything and nothing. As the commencement of eternity, and as giving complexion to all the changeless future, it is everything; as the competitor of that eternity, or the counterpoise to its joys and sorrows, it is nothing [Dr. J. Hamilton].
The mysterious depths of the future are hidden from human eye, but nothing shall be found there which can hurt or alarm the righteous. In the upshot of things, there will be seen the triumph of great moral principles, and the vindication of goodness wherever it is found.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(11) Things.We might also translate words.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Seeing, should be merely emphatic, that is, truly. All human concerns tend the same way; the mere affairs, the mere vanities. What advantage, then, can man gain from more or less of them, or, how can he make any selection among them?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ecc 6:11. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity For there are many arguments to shew the multitude of vanities which prevail on the earth. Desvoeux: who concludes the verse here, and begins the 12th thus, Now what remaineth to man? for who, &c. Solomon, in the 10th and 11th verses, thought proper to draw a general conclusion from the two former propositions, which were hitherto fully established, after a full inquiry into men’s occupations and schemes of happiness: It appears that the name of vapour, or vanity, which was given them in the beginning, is a very fit one. Nay, it is a name as properly to be given to man, as to any thing else; for man can never be able to withstand the appointment of God, who sufficiently testified his will by the ways of his providence.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Ecc 6:11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better?
Ver. 11. Seeing there be many things that increase. ] Seeing it is in vain to wrestle or wrangle with God, to seek to ward off his blow, to moat up one’s self against his fire. Why should vain man contend with his Maker? Why should he beat himself to froth, as the surges of the sea do against the rock? Why should he, like the untamed heifer unaccustomed to the yoke, gall his neck by wriggling? – make his crosses heavier than God makes them, by crossness and impatience? The very heathen could tell him that,
“ Deus crudelius urit,
Quos videt invitos succubuisse sibi. ”
– Tibul.
God will have the better of those that contend with him: and his own reason will tell him that it is not fit that God should cast down the bucklers first: and that the deeper a man wades, the more he shall be wet.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ecc 1:6-9, Ecc 1:17, Ecc 1:18, Ecc 2:3-11, Ecc 3:19, Ecc 4:1-4, Ecc 4:8, Ecc 4:16, Ecc 5:7, Psa 73:6, Hos 12:1
Reciprocal: Job 7:16 – my days Psa 39:6 – surely Ecc 1:2 – General Ecc 4:4 – This is Ecc 11:8 – All that Luk 10:41 – many Rom 3:1 – advantage 1Co 15:19 – this
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ecc 6:11-12. Seeing there be many things which increase vanity This seems to be added as a conclusion from all the foregoing chapters; seeing not only man is a vain creature in himself, but there are also many other things, which, instead of diminishing, do but increase this vanity, as wisdom, pleasure, power, wealth; seeing even the good things of this life bring so much toil, and cares, and fears with them; what is man the better By all that he can either desire or enjoy here? For who knoweth what is good for a man No man certainly knows what is best for him here, whether to be high or low, rich or poor, because those things which men generally desire and pursue, are very frequently the occasions of their utter ruin, as has been observed again and again in this book; all the days of his vain life Life itself, which is the foundation of all mens comforts and enjoyments here, is a vain, uncertain, and transitory thing, and therefore all things that depend upon it must needs be so too; which he spendeth as a shadow Which, while it abides, hath nothing solid or substantial in it, and which speedily passes away, and leaves no sign behind it; for who can tell a man, &c. And as no man can be happy with these things while he lives, so he can have no satisfaction in leaving them to others, because he knows not either who shall possess them, or how the future owners will use or abuse them, or what mischief they may do by them, either to others, or even to themselves.