The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 6:10 Explained

Ecclesiastes 6:10

KJV: That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

YLT: What is that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it is man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.

Darby: That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

ASV: Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That which hath been is named  already,  and it is known  that it [is] man:  neither may  he contend  with him that is mightier  than he. 

What does Ecclesiastes 6:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of Ecclesiastes 6:10 to Ecclesiastes 11:6. The phrases "does not know" and "cannot discover" occur frequently ( Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ecclesiastes 7:24; Ecclesiastes 7:28; Ecclesiastes 8:17; Ecclesiastes 10:14; Ecclesiastes 11:2; Ecclesiastes 11:6). Also, the recurrence of "it is good" ( Ecclesiastes 7:18), and "is better than" ( Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Ecclesiastes 9:16; Ecclesiastes 9:18), helps us realize that in this section, Solomon gave much practical advice on how to live. He did not let us forget that our understanding of God"s ways in the present ( Ecclesiastes 7:13; cf. Ecclesiastes 8:17) and in the future ( Ecclesiastes 9:1; Ecclesiastes 10:14; Ecclesiastes 11:2) is partial. The conclusion is: we should fear God ( Ecclesiastes 7:18; Ecclesiastes 8:12; Ecclesiastes 12:13) and seek to please Him ( Ecclesiastes 7:26; cf. Ecclesiastes 2:26).

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 6

1  the vanity of riches without use
3  though a man have many children and a long life
7  the vanity of sight and wandering desires
10  The conclusion of vanities

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 6:10 mean?

What one is already he has been named - for it is known that he [is] man and cannot he contend with - Him who is mightier than he
מַה־ שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗ה כְּבָר֙ נִקְרָ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ וְנוֹדָ֖ע אֲשֶׁר־ ה֣וּא אָדָ֑ם וְלֹא־ יוּכַ֣ל לָדִ֔ין עִ֥ם [שהתקיף] (שֶׁתַּקִּ֖יף) מִמֶּֽנּוּ

שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗ה  one  is 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּבָר֙  already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כְּבָר  
Sense: already, long ago, a great while.
נִקְרָ֣א  he  has  been  named 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
שְׁמ֔וֹ  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וְנוֹדָ֖ע  for  it  is  known 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
ה֣וּא  he  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אָדָ֑ם  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וְלֹא־  and  cannot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לָדִ֔ין  contend 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דֹּון 
Sense: to judge, contend, plead.
[שהתקיף]  - 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
(שֶׁתַּקִּ֖יף)  Him  who  is  mightier 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּקַף  
Sense: (Qal) to prevail over or against, overcome, overpower.
מִמֶּֽנּוּ  than  he 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.