Ecclesiastes 6:11
in Ecclesiastes 6For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
KJV
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 6
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Things - Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preacher’s 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?
This site's exposition
Whatever exists was named long ago
on Ecclesiastes 6:10-12
More words bring more futility, and the Teacher asks who knows what is good for a man, whose life passes like a shadow. The last question, Who can tell a man what will come after him, states the need the better-than proverbs of chapter 7 take up.
This site's exposition
the more words, the more futility
Bonaventure reads the clause as many words, the talk of disputation that yields little truth. Gill and Wesley read many things, naming wisdom, wealth, pleasure and power as pursuits that add to futility. Barnes renders the close as what profits man.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 6 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Therefore he adds: "Words are very many," that is, few things are known: below, chapter 10: "The fool multiplies words." "And having much vanity in disputing," and little truth, above, chapter 3: "He has delivered the world to their disputation, so that man may not …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The Miseries of Covetousness. 1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:97%@v1-3
Seeing - 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.
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.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Seeing" that man cannot escape from the "vanity," which by God's "mighty" will is inherent in earthly things, and cannot call in question God's wisdom in these dispensations (equivalent to "contend," &c.), what is man the better--of these vain things as regards the chief good?
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
For there are many things. With which he occupied himself during his lifetime, such as the games of the kings, [e.g.,] monkeys, elephants and lions. They increased vanity for him, and what remains for him after he dies.
3 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Whatever has been has already been named. The stature and greatness that had been established during his lifetime, “has already been named,” i.e., it already was and passed, he already had attained fame, and now it has passed, and it was made known that he was a man.
For who knows. For who knows good deeds and what man should do during his life, so that it will bring him goodness in the hereafter.
That which has been in the world, behold! its name has long been called, and has been made known to the children of men from the day that the first Adam existed, and all is the decree of the Lord; and men cannot stand in judgment with the Lord of the world, who is stronger than he.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יֵשׁ־ | yesh- | there | H3426 → | 140 times |
| דְּבָרִ֥ים | devarim | [are] words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הַרְבֵּ֖ה | harbeh | certainly <to increase> | H7235 → | 227 times |
| מַרְבִּ֣ים | marbim | they increase | H7235 → | 227 times |
| הָ֑בֶל | havel | futility | H1892 → | 73 times |
| מַה־ | mah- | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| יֹּתֵ֖ר | yoter | advantage | H3148 → | 9 times |
| לָאָדָֽם׃ | laadam | [belongs] to <the> person | H120 → | 551 times |
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
יֵשׁ־there
yesh-H3426 →140 times
דְּבָרִ֥ים[are] words
devarimH1697 →1440 times
הַרְבֵּ֖הcertainly <to increase>
harbehH7235 →227 times
מַרְבִּ֣יםthey increase
marbimH7235 →227 times
הָ֑בֶלfutility
havelH1892 →73 times
מַה־what?
mah-H4100 →752 times
יֹּתֵ֖רadvantage
yoterH3148 →9 times
לָאָדָֽם׃[belongs] to <the> person
laadamH120 →551 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ecclesiastes 5:7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
it leads to
- Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Isaiah 50:10–11
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him…
- Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- Matthew 12:36
Through
Ecclesiastes 4:8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I…
it leads to
- 1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
- Proverbs 27:20
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
- Luke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
- 1 John 2:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 6; Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.