Ecclesiastes 11:2
Divide a portion into seven, yea, even into eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
In Context
1Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.
Cross References
1 Samuel 25:8Ask thy young men, and they will tell thee; wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes; for we come on a good day; give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thy hand, unto thy servants, and to thy son David.'
Esther 9:19Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
Job 5:19He will deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
Proverbs 6:16There are six things which the LORD hateth, yea, seven which are an abomination unto Him:
Micah 5:5(5-4) And this shall be peace: when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight princes among men.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 11:2-7
The Obligations to Be Liberal; Answers to Objections against Liberality. 1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall… Read the whole commentary →