Ecclesiastes 6:6
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures, from Gilgamesh Epic to Egyptian Book of the Dead, wrestled with mortality's inevitability. The quest for immortality or extended life appeared throughout ancient literature. The Preacher's claim that even two thousand years of joyless life provides no advantage confronts both ancient and modern denial of death's significance. Biblical theology affirms death as both natural consequence of creaturehood and penalty for sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). Pre-Christian revelation provided limited hope beyond death, making Ecclesiastes' 'one place' sobering. Christ's resurrection transformed this: death remains the great equalizer, but faith in Christ provides resurrection hope (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Calvin emphasized that recognizing death's universality should drive us toward seeking eternal life in Christ, not denying or avoiding death's reality.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the reality that 'all go to one place'—the grave—affect your priorities and pursuits in this life?
- What pursuits in your life assume you will live indefinitely, and how should death's certainty reshape those assumptions?
Analysis & Commentary
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told—the Preacher extends the hypothetical to absurd extremes: two thousand years of life, vastly exceeding any biblical lifespan (even Methuselah's 969 years, Genesis 5:27). Yet hath he seen no good (וְטוֹבָה לֹא רָאָה, ve-tovah lo ra'ah)—despite unimaginable longevity, no tovah (good/satisfaction/blessing) is experienced. The verb ra'ah (to see) implies experiential knowledge, not mere observation.
Do not all go to one place? (הֲלֹא אֶל־מָקוֹם אֶחָד הַכֹּל הוֹלֵךְ, halo el-maqom echad hakol holekh)—the rhetorical question answers: yes, all go to Sheol, the grave. Long life or short, satisfied or dissatisfied, wealthy or poor—all face the same death. This democratizing reality relativizes earthly distinctions. If death nullifies all earthly advantages, then living two thousand years without enjoying good offers no benefit over the stillborn's immediate passage to the grave. Only what transcends death—relationship with the eternal God—provides lasting meaning.