Ecclesiastes 11:5

We do not know where the wind comes from or where it goes, and we do not know how bodies are formed in women’s wombs. Similarly [SIM], God is the one who made everything, and we cannot fully understand what God does.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

In Context

4If farmers see in what direction the wind is blowing, they will know whether it is wise at that time to plant things or not. It is also true that if farmers look at the clouds and see that they are blowing from the west, which means that it will probably rain, they will not try to harvest their crops on that day.

6Start planting your seeds in the morning, and do not stop planting them until the evening, because you do not know which ones will grow better, the ones you plant in the morning or the ones you plant later in the day, or whether both will grow well.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 11

Cross References

Job 5:9He does great things, things that we cannot understand; we cannot even count the marvelous things that he does.

Job 26:14But those events show only a small amount of his power; it is as though we are hearing only whispers of his powerful voice. When we hear thunder, we say, ‘◄Who can really understand how great his power is/No one can really understand how great his power is!► [RHQ]’”

Job 37:23Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.

Psalms 40:5O Yahweh, my God, you have done many wonderful things! No one can list all the wonderful things that you have planned for us. If I tried to tell others about all those wonderful things, I would not be able to, because there would be too many for me to mention.

Psalms 104:24Yahweh, you have made so many different kinds of things! You were very wise as you made them all. The earth is full of the creatures that you made.

Ecclesiastes 1:6The wind blows south, and then it turns around to start blowing towards the north. It goes around and around in circles.

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 11:5