Ecclesiastes 9:12
in Ecclesiastes 9For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
KJV
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
⋯
This verse in Ecclesiastes 9
Commentary
10 notes on this verseNow as these things are written in the Scriptures, the case is clear, that the saints know that a certain time is measured to every person, but that no one knows the end of that time is plainly intimated by the words of David, "Declare unto me the shortness of my days." What he did not know, that he desired to be informed of.
This site's exposition
For surely no man knows his time
Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them. Clarke notes that the net and the snare were the common hunting methods of the day, familiar to every reader.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
" For man does not even know his time, like fish caught in a fatal net, like birds seized in a snare, so are men caught in the moment of disaster when it falls upon them suddenly. "I have already said above, that while men are yet unknowing, either disaster or death befalls them. More precisely we should look at this as allegory, that the realm of the sky is similar to a net cast into the sea; and on the other hand heretics have nets, in which they capture fish, leading to their death. Their net though is affable language, flattering speeches, feigned or forced fasting, poor clothes, and an imitation of virtues. And if they begin to argue about the divine and raise their face to the heavens to seek the heights of God, then they cast a noose into the heavenly abodes. So just as fish and birds are seized of a sudden by such a net, and by such a noose, so wickedness is increased many times and the kindness of many fails; and the signs and portents are seen in such a way as to entice even the chosen of God if possible. See too those men of the Church, who are called the children of men, and are of modest faith, and who can be overcome quickly. Note too, that the term "sons of men" is used throughout the whole book, and the Hebrew has "sons of man", this is 'the sons of Adam'. And almost all scripture is filled with this idiom that sees the sons of Adam as the sons of all men.
Many can know chronological time. Everybody, for example, knows that noon is the time for healthy people to eat lunch. The time, however, which is determined by physicians, is not known to everyone but only to the physician. And since there is only one physician …
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"Man does not know his end," etc. Here is touched upon the deficiency of governance with respect to the termination of death, because it is determined for no one, neither when nor how he must die. And it seems that such or such a death …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
His time - The time of his death, or other distress which God is bringing upon him. Are taken - While they are sporting and feeding themselves. When - When they are most careless and secure.
For man also knoweth not his time,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Perhaps we may meet with trouble in that very thing wherein we promise ourselves the greatest satisfaction and advantage; as the fishes and the birds are drawn into the snare and net by the bait laid to allure them, which they greedily catch at, so are the sons of men often snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them, before they are aware.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Ec 9:10). evil net--fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (Lu 21:35). evil time--as an "evil net," fatal to them.
As the birds that are caught - Man acts so heedlessly, notwithstanding all his wisdom, and all his warnings, that he is often taken, as a fish is, by the baited hook; and the bird by the baited snare. And thus, an evil time, like the snare, gin, trap, hook, falleth suddenly upon them; and they are taken in a moment, and have no means of escaping. How frequently do we see these comparisons illustrated!
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
As fish that are caught in a weak net. Like large fish that are caught in an inferior and weak net, and our Rabbis explained: This is a fishhook, which is no more than a type of needle, by which a large fish is caught.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Again I saw. Like ‘זָכוֹר’[=remebering continually], wedant in O.F.
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. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֡י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| גַּם֩ | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יֵדַ֨ע | yeda' | he knows | H3045 → | 945 times |
| הָאָדָ֜ם | haadam | <the> humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עִתּ֗וֹ | ito | time his | H6256 → | 296 times |
| כַּדָּגִים֙ | kadagim | like <the> fish<es> | H1709 → | |
| שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ | sheneechazim | that [are] caught | H270 → | 67 times |
| בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה | bimtzodah | in a net | H4685 → | 7 times |
| רָעָ֔ה | raah | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים | vekhatziporim | and like <the> birds | H6833 → | |
| הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת | haachuzot | that are caught | H270 → | 67 times |
| בַּפָּ֑ח | bapach | in <the> snare | H6341 → | |
| כָּהֵ֗ם | kahem | like <the> them | ||
| יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ | yukashim | [are] ensnared | H3369 → | |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] children of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הָֽאָדָ֔ם | haadam | <the> humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
| לְעֵ֣ת | leet | to a time | H6256 → | 296 times |
| רָעָ֔ה | raah | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל | keshettipol | when that <it> falls | H5307 → | 435 times |
| עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם | ʾaleihem | on them | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| פִּתְאֹֽם׃ | pitom | suddenly | H6597 → |
כִּ֡יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
גַּם֩also
gamH1571 →769 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יֵדַ֨עhe knows
yeda'H3045 →945 times
הָאָדָ֜ם<the> humankind
haadamH120 →551 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עִתּ֗וֹtime his
itoH6256 →296 times
כַּדָּגִים֙like <the> fish<es>
kadagimH1709 →
שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙that [are] caught
sheneechazimH270 →67 times
בִּמְצוֹדָ֣הin a net
bimtzodahH4685 →7 times
רָעָ֔הevil
raahH7451 →662 times
וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔יםand like <the> birds
vekhatziporimH6833 →
הָאֲחֻז֖וֹתthat are caught
haachuzotH270 →67 times
בַּפָּ֑חin <the> snare
bapachH6341 →
כָּהֵ֗םlike <the> them
kahem
יֽוּקָשִׁים֙[are] ensnared
yukashimH3369 →
בְּנֵ֣י[the] children of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
הָֽאָדָ֔ם<the> humankind
haadamH120 →551 times
לְעֵ֣תto a time
leetH6256 →296 times
רָעָ֔הevil
raahH7451 →662 times
כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹלwhen that <it> falls
keshettipolH5307 →435 times
עֲלֵיהֶ֖םon them
ʾaleihemH5921 →5755 times
פִּתְאֹֽם׃suddenly
pitomH6597 →
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
1 Thessalonians 5:3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
it leads to
- Luke 21:34–35
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
- Matthew 24:37–39
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
- Luke 17:26–30
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
- Psalms 73:18–20
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 18:7–8
As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow…
- Luke 21:34–35
Through
Proverbs 6:15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 19:11
and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again…
- 2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- Jeremiah 19:11
Through
Proverbs 29:6An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
it leads to
- Exodus 15:1
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Exodus 15:1
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Athanasius of Alexandria, DEFENSE OF HIS FLIGHT 15; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES 286:1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; 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.