2 Give H5414 a portion H2506 to seven, H7651 and also to eight; H8083 for thou knowest H3045 not what evil H7451 shall be upon the earth. H776
That they do good, G14 that they be rich G4147 in G1722 good G2570 works, G2041 ready to distribute, G1511 G2130 willing to communicate; G2843 Laying up in store G597 for themselves G1438 a good G2570 foundation G2310 against G1519 the time to come, G3195 that G2443 they may lay hold on G1949 eternal G166 life. G2222
And G1161 there stood up G450 one G1520 of G1537 them G846 named G3686 Agabus, G13 and signified G4591 by G1223 the Spirit G4151 that there should be G3195 G1510 great G3173 dearth G3042 throughout G1909 all G3650 the world: G3625 which G3748 G2532 came to pass G1096 in the days of G1909 Claudius G2804 Caesar. G2541 Then G1161 the disciples, G3101 every G1538 man G846 according to G2531 his ability, G2141 G5100 determined G3724 to send G3992 relief G1248 unto G1519 the brethren G80 which dwelt G2730 in G1722 Judaea: G2449 Which G3739 also G2532 they did, G4160 and sent it G649 to G4314 the elders G4245 by G1223 the hands G5495 of Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul. G4569
G1161 Give G1325 to every man G3956 that asketh G154 of thee; G4571 and G2532 of G575 him that taketh away G142 thy goods G4674 ask G523 them not G3361 again. G523 And G2532 as G2531 ye would G2309 that G2443 men G444 should do G4160 to you, G5213 do G4160 ye G5210 also G2532 to them G846 likewise. G3668 For G2532 if G1487 ye love G25 them which love G25 you, G5209 what G4169 thank G5485 have G2076 ye? G5213 for G1063 sinners G268 also G2532 love G25 those that love G25 them. G846 And G2532 if G1437 ye do good G15 to them which do good G15 to you, G5209 what G4169 thank G5485 have G2076 ye? G5213 for G1063 sinners G268 also do G4160 even G2532 the same. G846 And G2532 if G1437 ye lend G1155 to them of G3844 whom G3739 ye hope G1679 G1679 to receive, G618 what G4169 thank G5485 have G2076 ye? G5213 for G1063 sinners G268 also G2532 lend G1155 to sinners, G268 to G2443 receive G618 as much G2470 again. G618 But G4133 love ye G25 your G5216 enemies, G2190 and G2532 do good, G15 and G2532 lend, G1155 hoping G560 for nothing G3367 again; G560 and G2532 your G5216 reward G3408 shall be G2071 great, G4183 and G2532 ye shall be G2071 the children G5207 of the Highest: G5310 for G3754 he G846 is G2076 kind G5543 unto G1909 the unthankful G884 and G2532 to the evil. G4190
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ec 11:1-10.
1. Ec 11:2 shows that charity is here inculcated.
bread—bread corn. As in the Lord's prayer, all things needful for the body and soul. Solomon reverts to the sentiment (Ec 9:10).
waters—image from the custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into the overflowing waters of the Nile, or in any marshy ground. When the waters receded, the grain in the alluvial soil sprang up (Isa 32:20). "Waters" express multitudes, so Ec 11:2; Re 17:15; also the seemingly hopeless character of the recipients of the charity; but it shall prove at last to have been not thrown away (Isa 49:4).
2. portion—of thy bread.
seven—the perfect number.
eight—even to more than seven; that is, "to many" (so "waters," Ec 11:1), nay, even to very many in need (Job 5:19; Mic 5:5).
evil—The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (Lu 16:9). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.
3. clouds—answering to "evil" (Ec 11:2), meaning, When the times of evil are fully ripe, evil must come; and speculations about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality, are vain (Ec 11:4).
tree—Once the storm uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven, once that death overtakes him (Re 22:11, 14, 15). Now is his time for liberality, before the evil days come (Ec 12:1).
4. Therefore sow thy charity in faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they may not seem promising (Ec 9:10). So in Ec 11:1, man is told to "cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters" (Ps 126:5, 6). The farmer would get on badly, who, instead of sowing and reaping, spent his time in watching the wind and clouds.
5. spirit—How the soul animates the body! Thus the transition to the formation of the body "in the womb" is more natural, than if with Maurer we translate it "wind" (Ec 1:6; Joh 3:8).
bones … grow—(Job 10:8, 9; Ps 139:15, 16).
knowest not the works of God—(Ec 3:11; 8:17; 9:12).
6. morning … evening—early and late; when young and when old; in sunshine and under clouds.
seed—of godly works (Ho 10:12; 2Co 9:10; Ga 6:7).
prosper—(Isa 55:10, 11).
both … alike—Both the unpromising and the promising sowing may bear good fruit in others; certainly they shall to the faithful sower.
7. light—of life (Ec 7:11; Ps 49:19). Life is enjoyable, especially to the godly.
8. But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (Job 10:21, 22; Ps 88:12), also days of "evil" in this world (Ec 11:2), are coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last, which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties.
All that cometh—that is, All that followeth in the evil and dark days is vain, as far as work for God is concerned (Ec 9:10).
9. Rejoice—not advice, but warning. So 1Ki 22:15, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ec 2:2; 7:2, not moderately, as in Ec 5:18), &c., then "know that … God will bring thee into judgment" (Ec 3:17; 12:14).
youth … youth—distinct Hebrew words, adolescence or boyhood (before Ec 11:10), and full-grown youth. It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely more (Lu 14:28).
10. sorrow—that is, the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ec 11:9), Margin, "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," &c., is thus opposed to "walk in," &c. (Ec 11:9).
flesh—the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts.
childhood—rather, "boyhood"; the same Hebrew word as the first, "youth" in Ec 11:9. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given to God (Ec 12:1).
youth—literally, the dawn of thy days.