Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:7-10

The preacher here further shows the vanity and folly of heaping up worldly wealth and expecting happiness in it. I. How much soever we toil about the world, and get out of it, we can have for ourselves no more than a maintenance (Eccl. 6:7): All the labour of man is for his mouth, which craves it of him (Prov. 16:26); it is but food and raiment; what is more others have, not we; it is all for the mouth. Meats are but for the belly and the belly for meats; there is nothing for the head and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man ,.... Which may be understood of the first man Adam, who has been, has existed, was produced by the immediate power of God, creating and forming him out of the dust of the earth; was made after the image, and in the likeness of God, a wise and knowing creature, a rich and powerful one, the figure of him that was to come, being the head and representative of all his posterity; and he has been named already, he had his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already - The Hebrew of this verse might be translated, "Who is he who is? His name has been already called. And it is known that he is Adam; and that he cannot contend in judgment with him who is stronger than he." "What is more excellent than man; yet can he not, in the lawe, get the victory of him that is mightier than he." - Coverdale. Adam is his name; and it at once points out, His dignity; he was made in the image of God. His fall; he sinned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already ; better, whatsoever hath been , long ago hath its name been given . The word rendered "already," kebar ( Ecclesiastes 1:10 ; Ecclesiastes 2:12 ; Ecclesiastes 3:15 ; Ecclesiastes 4:2 ), "long ago," though used elsewhere in this book of events in human history, may appropriately be applied to the Divine decrees which predetermine the circumstances of man's life. This is its significance in the present passage, which asserts that everything... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

Section 11. All things are foreknown and foreordained by God ; it is useless to murmur against or to discuss this great fact ; and as the future is beyond our knowledge and control, it is wise to make the best of the present. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:10

Or, “That which has been named - i. e., events past or current, either Ecclesiastes 1:9 as they present themselves to man, or Ecclesiastes 3:15 as they are ordered by God - was long ago (i. e., was decreed, its nature and place were defined by the Almighty), and was known that it is man;” i. e., the course of events shapes the conduct and character of man, so that what he does and suffers is said to be or constitute the man. God from the beginning definitely ordained the course of events... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 6:10

Ecclesiastes 6:10. That which hath been Or, that which is, for the Hebrew מה שׁהיה , may be rendered either way; namely, Man, considered with all his endowments and enjoyments, whether he be wise or foolish, rich or poor; man, who is the chief of all visible and sublunary beings, for whom they all were made, is named already, namely, by God, who immediately after his creation called him Adam, (Genesis 5:2,) to signify what his nature and condition were or would be. This verse seems to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Advice about money (5:8-6:12)Greed for money is a common social evil and the cause of much suffering. Because of such greed, government officials exploit poor farmers. Each official makes sure he takes as much money as he can, so that after he has passed some of it on to those above him who protect him, he has enough left for himself. As for the farmers, besides losing their profits to corrupt officials, they must also give some of their harvest as a tax to the king (8-9).Prosperity does not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already, &c. : "What is he who hath been? "(Compare Ecclesiastes 1:9 ). Long ago his name was given; And it is understood what [that name was,]-- It was Adam": which means vegetable mould, made in the likeness of Elohim, Genesis 1:27 ; Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 5:1 , Genesis 5:2 . Made of "earth" he returns to earth (1 Corinthians 15:47 ): i.e. "vanity". This book is a comment on Psalms 144:4 . Compare Psalms 39:0 ; Psalms 49:0 ; Psalms 62:0 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:10

SOLOMON'S CHARGE THAT LIFE ITSELF IS VAIN"Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in his 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?"The dark and pessimistic tone of these passages might be merely... read more

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