Ecclesiastes 11:2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil may come upon the earth.—
Leeser Tanakh
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 face of the waters; for after many days wilt thou find it again.
Cross References
1 Samuel 25:8Ask thy young men, and they will tell it thee. Therefore let the young men find favor in thy eyes; for on a festive day are we come: give, I pray thee, whatsoever thy hand is capable of unto thy servants, and to thy son, to David.
Esther 9:19Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar as one of joy and entertainment, and a feast-day, and of sending portions one to another.
Job 5:19In six distresses will he deliver thee; and in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
Proverbs 6:16Six things there are which the Lord hateth; and seven are an abomination unto his spirit:
Micah 5:5(5:4) And in this [manner] shall there be peace: If Asshur should come into our land; and if he should tread in our palaces, then will we raise up against him seven shepherds, and eight anointed 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 →