Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 6:11–12

¹¹For the more words, the more futility — and how does that profit anyone? ¹²For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the more	הַרְבֵּ֖ה	har·bêh	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
words	דְּבָרִ֥ים	də·ḇā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
the more	מַרְבִּ֣ים	mar·bîm	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
futility	הָ֑בֶל	hā·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath
and how	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
does that profit	יֹּתֵ֖ר	yō·ṯêr	Noun - masculine singular	H3148 superiority, advantage, excess
anyone	לָאָדָֽם׃	lā·’ā·ḏām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind

Ecclesiastes 6:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
who	מִֽי־	mî-	Interrogative	H4310 who?
knows	יוֹדֵעַ֩	yō·w·ḏê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3045 know
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is good	טּ֨וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for a man	לָֽאָדָ֜ם	lā·’ā·ḏām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
during the few	מִסְפַּ֛ר	mis·par	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4557 number, tale
days	יְמֵי־	yə·mê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3117 day
he passes through	וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם	wə·ya·‘ă·śêm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
his fleeting	הֶבְל֖וֹ	heḇ·lōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath
life	חַיֵּ֥י	ḥay·yê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H2416 alive, living
like a shadow	כַּצֵּ֑ל	kaṣ·ṣêl	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6738 shadow
Who	מִֽי־	mî-	Interrogative	H4310 who?
can tell	יַגִּ֣יד	yag·gîḏ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
a man	לָֽאָדָ֔ם	lā·’ā·ḏām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
will come	יִּהְיֶ֥ה	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
after him	אַחֲרָ֖יו	’a·ḥă·rāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H310 behind
under	תַּ֥חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃	haš·šā·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Ecclesiastes 6:11 Ecclesiastes 4:16 · Ecclesiastes 5:7

Ecclesiastes 6:12 James 4:14 · Job 14:2 · Ecclesiastes 3:22 · Lamentations 3:24–27 · Psalm 144:4 · Psalm 39:5–6 · Job 8:9 · Ecclesiastes 8:7 · 1 Chronicles 29:15 · Ecclesiastes 8:13 · Ecclesiastes 12:13 · Psalm 90:10–12

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.