Ecclesiastes 6:12

Authorized King James Version

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For who knoweth what is good for man in this 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?

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מִֽי H4310
מִֽי
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 2 of 22
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יוֹדֵעַ֩ For who knoweth H3045
יוֹדֵעַ֩ For who knoweth
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 3 of 22
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
מַה H4100
מַה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 4 of 22
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
טּ֨וֹב what is good H2896
טּ֨וֹב what is good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 5 of 22
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
לָֽאָדָ֔ם a man H120
לָֽאָדָ֔ם a man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 6 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
חַיֵּ֥י in this life H2416
חַיֵּ֥י in this life
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 7 of 22
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
מִסְפַּ֛ר all H4557
מִסְפַּ֛ר all
Strong's: H4557
Word #: 8 of 22
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
יְמֵי the days H3117
יְמֵי the days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 9 of 22
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
חַיֵּ֥י in this life H2416
חַיֵּ֥י in this life
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 10 of 22
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
הֶבְל֖וֹ of his vain H1892
הֶבְל֖וֹ of his vain
Strong's: H1892
Word #: 11 of 22
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם which he spendeth H6213
וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם which he spendeth
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 12 of 22
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כַּצֵּ֑ל as a shadow H6738
כַּצֵּ֑ל as a shadow
Strong's: H6738
Word #: 13 of 22
shade, whether literal or figurative
אֲשֶׁר֙ H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's: H834
Word #: 14 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִֽי H4310
מִֽי
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 15 of 22
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יַגִּ֣יד for who can tell H5046
יַגִּ֣יד for who can tell
Strong's: H5046
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
לָֽאָדָ֔ם a man H120
לָֽאָדָ֔ם a man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 17 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
מַה H4100
מַה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 18 of 22
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יִּהְיֶ֥ה H1961
יִּהְיֶ֥ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 19 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אַחֲרָ֖יו what shall be after H310
אַחֲרָ֖יו what shall be after
Strong's: H310
Word #: 20 of 22
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
תַּ֥חַת H8478
תַּ֥חַת
Strong's: H8478
Word #: 21 of 22
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ him under the sun H8121
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ him under the sun
Strong's: H8121
Word #: 22 of 22
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

Analysis & Commentary

The Preacher asks a profound question: 'For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow?' The Hebrew 'mi yodea' (מִי יוֹדֵעַ, who knows) expresses epistemic humility—human beings cannot reliably discern what truly benefits them. The phrase 'vain life' uses 'hevel' (הֶבֶל, vapor/breath), Ecclesiastes' key term for temporal existence's fleeting, insubstantial nature. Life passes quickly 'as a shadow' (katsel, כַּצֵּל)—here then gone, lacking substance. The second question intensifies the first: 'who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?' Humans cannot know the future—what will happen after their death, how their work will fare, whether their children will prosper. This double ignorance—uncertainty about present good and future outcomes—drives readers toward dependence on God's wisdom revealed in His Word.

Historical Context

Ancient wisdom literature prized knowledge of 'the good'—understanding what promotes human flourishing. Yet Ecclesiastes questions whether unaided human reason can discern this. Israel's wisdom tradition acknowledged that 'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' (Proverbs 9:10)—true knowledge requires divine revelation, not autonomous reason. The shadow metaphor appears throughout Scripture (1 Chronicles 29:15; Job 8:9; Psalm 102:11; 144:4), depicting life's brevity and insubstantiality. Post-exilic readers, uncertain about their future and questioning traditional wisdom's promises, found validation in this honest acknowledgment of human limitations. Jesus later revealed what is truly 'good': seeking first God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33), loving God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40), and storing eternal treasures (Matthew 6:19-21).

Questions for Reflection