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ECCLESIASTES 11

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. Notice that several translations think the last literary unit (i.e., before several brief concluding statements) begins in chapter 11, 11:9-12:8.
   1. Eccl. 11:9-12:8 (NKJV, TEV)
   2. Eccl. 11:7-12:8 (NRSV, NJB)
   
   
2. There are several commands in this chapter:
   1. "cast," Eccl. 11:1, BDB 1018; KB 1511, Piel IMPERATIVE
   2. "divide," Eccl. 11:2, BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERATIVE
   3. "sow," Eccl. 11:6, BDB 281, KB 282, Qal IMPERATIVE
   4. "be idle" (lit. "rest"), Eccl. 11:6, BDB 628, KB 679, Hiphil JUSSIVE
   5. "let him rejoice," Eccl. 11:8, BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT but used in a JUSSIVE sense
   6. "let him remember," Eccl. 11:8, BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERFECT but used in a JUSSIVE sense
   7. "rejoice," v, 9, BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERATIVE
   8. "let your heart be pleasant" (lit. "do good"), Eccl. 11:9, BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
   9. "follow" (lit. "walk"), Eccl. 11:9, BDB 229, KB 246, Piel IMPERATIVE
   10. "know," Eccl. 11:9, BDB 393, KB 390, Qal IMPERATIVE
   11. "remove," Eccl. 11:10, BDB 693, KB 747, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
   12. "put away," Eccl. 11:10, BDB 716, KB 778, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
   13. "remember," 12:1, BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERATIVE
   
   
3. This paragraph (or stanza depending on the genre, cf. NKJV, NJB), Eccl. 11:1-6, uses agricultural and rural imagery to communicate wisdom teachings.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 11:1-5
 ¹Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. ²Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. ³If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. ⁴He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. ⁵Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

11:1 This is a recurrent proverb in the Bible relating to one's generosity (rabbinical sources) and God's gracious response (cf. Deut. 15:10; Prov. 11:24-25; 19:17; 22:9; Matt. 10:42; 2 Cor. 9:8; Gal. 6:9; Heb. 6:10).

There are scholars who think the mentioning of "waters" is a reference to marine commerce. Therefore, this verse refers to shrewd investments in sea trade (see NASB Study Bible). There is very little in this context to support this interpretation. But, it does illustrate the difficulty one faces in moderns trying to understand ANE idioms, imagery, and wisdom literature.

11:2 "Divide your portion to seven, or even eight" This either refers to

1. diversifying your wealth (NET Bible #5, p. 1143)
2. more probably in context, helping many people (cf. Matt. 5:42; Luke 6:30)

The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1619, suggests that the sequence of seven. . .eight was a common idiom in both Canaanite and Hebrew literature for "a significant quantity."

SPECIAL TOPIC: ALMSGIVING

This is the term "evil" (BDB 949, KB 1262). See note at Eccl. 2:17 ("grievous") and 9:12 ("treacherous").

1. It is coming!
2. Act while you can (Eccl. 11:4,6).
3. Give while you can (Eccl. 11:1-2).
4. Enjoy while you can (Eccl. 11:7-8).

11:3 Humans experience, but cannot predict or control, the events of their lives (a recurrent theme in Ecclesiastes), but we can share our wealth in good times then when the dark days come, others will share with us, similar to the biblical concept of "we reap what we sow" (see full lists of texts at Gal. 6:6-10).

11:4 At first, this verse of two parallel statements implies a warning against inactivity (i.e., referring to giving from Eccl. 11:1-2). However, I prefer the interpretation of the UBS Handbook For Translators, p. 398, which asserts that it is not inactivity (cf. TEV, REB), but timely activity, that is being advocated (also see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 1018, #2).

1. Farmers do not sow in a strong wind.
2. Farmers wait until the wind direction denotes rain, not hot desert winds.
3. Farmers sow during rainy periods, but reap during rainless periods.

When one is happy and successful, then give to others. If you wait the dark days may come when you cannot give.

Some translations take "wind" (BDB 924, KB 1197) as "spirit" or "breath," thereby connecting the two lines and relating them both to prenatal activity (cf. KJV, NRSV, TEV, REB, JPSOA, NAB). The interpretive question is, "Is there one illustration of mankind's inability to know, or are there two illustrations in Eccl. 11:5?" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT

The big issue is that in some areas (i.e., planting and harvesting times) humans can learn by observation and tradition, but in other areas (mysteries of nature and mysteries of God's activities) humans cannot know. Wisdom, though good, helpful, and desirable, cannot solve all of life's unknowns!

▣ "how bones are formed in the womb" The OT asserts that Yahweh

1. formed, Job 10:8-11; 31:15; Ps. 139:13-16; Isa. 44:2,24; 46:3
2. knows, Jer. 1:5; Rom. 9:11
3. Messianic imagery, Isa. 49:1,5

humans in the womb.

▣ "so you do not know the activity of God" This has been a common theme (cf. Eccl. 1:13; 3:10,11; 8:17). God and His works and ways cannot be completely known by fallen mankind, but we can trust Him because of what we do know!

This is an idiom for the entire creation (cf. Ps. 103:19; 119:91; Jer. 10:16).

NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 730, lists several other phrases that are used to designate the entire creation:

1. heaven and earth (e.g., Gen. 1:1; Ps. 115:15; 121:2; Prov. 3:19-20
2. "the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (e.g., Ps. 24:1-2; 50:12; 89:11; Jer. 51:48; 1 Cor. 10:26
3. "in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth (e.g., Exod. 20:4; Ps. 135:6)

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 11:6
 ⁶Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

11:6 "sow" Sow (imagery for giving) with confidence and leave the results to God (cf. 2 Cor. 9:6). Verses 5 and 6 are connected by the word "know" (BDB 393, KB 390, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE).

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

▣ "succeed" This Hebrew VERB (BDB 506, KB 503, Qal IMPERFECT) is found only here and in Eccl. 10:10 (Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). The NOUN is found only in Ecclesiastes as well (cf. Eccl. 2:21; 4:4; 5:10), meaning "skill," "success," or "profit." Success is uncertain. It may come (i.e., Eccl. 11:7-8) and it may not (i.e., Eccl. 11:8b). When it does, act (i.e., share).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 11:7-8
 ⁷The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. ⁸Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

11:7 "light is pleasant" This is imagery for

1. the enjoyment of life (cf. Eccl. 2:24-26; 3:12,13,22; 5:18; 8:15)
2. the beginning of life (i.e., "see the son," cf. Eccl. 6:5; 7:11)

11:8 This verse seems to relate to Eccl. 11:1-6. Share your wealth and influence while you can because dark days come into every life, and in those days others will share with you.

Live life fully every day. One does not know how many of them will be good and bright!

▣ "the days of darkness" This term "darkness" (BDB 365; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 312-315) is used as imagery for

1. death ‒ 1 Sam. 2:9; Job 10:21-22; 15:22,30; 17:13; 18:18; Ps. 88:11-12; 139:11
2. secrecy ‒ Job 12:22; Isa. 45:3
3. place of hiding ‒ Job 34:22
4. distress ‒ 2 Sam. 22:29; Job 15:23; 22:11; 23:17; 29:3; 107:10,14; Eccl. 5:17; 11:8; Isa. 5:30; 9:2; Micah 7:8
5. terror ‒ Ezek. 32:8; Amos 5:18,20; Nahum v. 8; Zeph. 1:15
6. mourning ‒ Isa. 47:5
7. confusion ‒ Job 5:14; 12:25; 19:8; Ps. 35:6
8. ignorance ‒ Job 37:19; Ps. 18:28; Eccl. 2:14
9. evil ‒ Prov. 2:13; Isa. 5:20
10. obscurity ‒ Eccl. 6:4
11. healing ‒ Ps. 107:14

▣ "futulity"  See full note on this crucial term at Eccl. 1:2 and NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 1003-1006.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 11:9-10
 ⁹Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. ¹⁰So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

11:9 At this point in the context, Qoheleth begins to talk about the different opportunities and problems that regularly occur during the different stages of life (Eccl. 11:9-12:7).

1. childhood
2. youth
3. young adult
4. old age

▣ "follow the impulses of your heart" This advice does not refer to evil, but to the natural human instincts of young people:

1. be with friends
2. enjoy life at social events
3. desire a family and children
4. find one's vocation

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART

▣ "Yet know that God will bring you to judgment" We are responsible for our choices (cf. Eccl. 3:17; 12:1; 14; Matthew 25-26; Rom. 2:16; 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7; Revelation 20)! All humans will give an account to God of the gift of life. See note at Eccl. 12:1.

SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT

10:19 "So, remove. . ." The VERB (BDB 693, KB 747, Hiphil IMPERATIVE is parallel with "put away" (BDB 716, KB 778, Hiphil IMPERATIVE). Humans have the ability to analyze and check their thinking and behavior. Young people are encouraged to eliminate

1. vexation (BDB 495), referring to emotional distress
2. pain (BDB 949), here referring to physical issues

This term (NOUN, BDB 495, KB 491; VERB, BDB 494) has several possible connotations:

1. anger of men, Eccl. 7:9
2. anger of God
3. grief, Eccl. 1:18; 2:23; 5:16
4. sorrow, Eccl. 7:3

This verse could fit with #3 or #4. Life is hard; enjoy it when, where and while you can!

▣ "the prime of life" This is possibly related to the concept, "days of black hair" (BDB 1007; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 83, #5), which is the same basic Semitic root as "dawn" (BDB 1007). Youth, as all things, will pass away (lit. "vanity," BDB 210 I). It is fleeting and meaningless!

This is the term "breath" (BDB 210 I; see full note at Eccl. 1:2), used here in the sense of "fleeting" (cf. Eccl. 6:12; 7:15; 9:9; Job 7:16; Ps. 39:5,11; 62:9; 78:33; 144:4; Prov. 31:30). Context determines the connotation intended by the original inspired author!

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