Ecclesiastes 11:9

Authorized King James Version

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
שְׂמַ֧ח
Rejoice
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
#2
בָּח֣וּר
O young man
properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)
#3
בְּיַלְדוּתֶ֗יךָ
in thy youth
boyhood (or girlhood)
#4
וִֽיטִֽיבְךָ֤
to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
#5
לִבְּךָ֔
and let thy heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#6
בִּימֵ֣י
thee in the days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#7
בְחוּרוֹתֶ֔יךָ
of thy youth
youth (collectively and abstractly)
#8
וְהַלֵּךְ֙
and walk
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#9
בְּדַרְכֵ֣י
in the ways
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
#10
לִבְּךָ֔
and let thy heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#11
וּבְמַרְאֵ֖י
and in the sight
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
#12
עֵינֶ֑יךָ
of thine eyes
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#13
וְדָ֕ע
but know
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
#14
כִּ֧י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#15
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#16
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#17
אֵ֛לֶּה
these or those
#18
יְבִֽיאֲךָ֥
will bring
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#19
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
thou that for all these things God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#20
בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
thee into judgment
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ecclesiastes Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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