Ecclesiastes 6:10

Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

Majority Standard Bible

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

11For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Genesis 3:17And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Job 9:32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

Job 33:13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

Psalms 39:6Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Psalms 103:15As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field;

Ecclesiastes 1:10Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 6:8-11

The Insatiableness of Desire. 7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 10 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. The preacher here further shows the vanity and folly of… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Ecclesiastes 6:10