Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 in other translations
| BSB | Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. |
|---|---|
| WEB | Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. |
| ASV | Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. |
| YLT | Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it. |
| DARBY | Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. |
| BBE | Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again. |
| Webster | Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. |
What does Ecclesiastes 11:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Give alms to all, Ecc 11:1-4. The works of God unknown to man, Ecc 11:5. Diligence necessary, Ecc 11:6. Prosperity frequently succeeded by adversity, Ecc 11:7, Ecc 11:8. There will be a day of judgment, Ecc 11:9, Ecc 11:10. Verse 1 Cast thy bread upon the waters - An allusion to the sowing of rice; which was sown upon muddy ground, or ground covered with water, and trodden in by the feet of cattle: it thus took root, and grew, and was found after many days in a plentiful harvest. Give alms to the poor, and it will be as seed sown in good ground. God will cause thee afterwards to receive it with abundant increase. The Targum understands it of giving bread to poor sailors. The Vulgate and my old Bible have the same idea. Send thi brede upon men passing waters.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Ecclesiastes 11:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Ecclesiastes 11:1
- Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
- Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- Matthew 10:42
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- Isaiah 32:20
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
- Psalms 41:1-2
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
- Luke 14:14
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
- Galatians 6:8-10
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
- Isaiah 32:8
But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
- Psalms 126:5-6
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
- Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7 Death in life,
9 and the day ofjudgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on.
Cast.That is, says Bp. Lowth, "Sow thy seed or corn on the face of the waters;" in plain terms, sow without any hope of a harvest: do good even to them on whom your benefactions seem thrown away. Dr. Jebb has well illustrated it by the following passages: "Vain are the favours done to vicious men; Not vainer 'tis to sow the foaming deep. The deep no pleasant harvest shall afford, Nor will the wicked ever make return." "To befriend the wicked is like sowing in the sea." These, indeed, invert this precept; nor is it extraordinary that they should; "The one, frail human power alone produced, The other, God."
thy bread.
De 15:7-11; Pr 11:24,25; 22:9; Isa 32:8
waters. Heb. face of the waters.
Isa 32:20
for.
6; De 15:10; Ps 41:1,2; 126:5,6; Pr 11:18; 19:17; Mt 10:13,42; 25:40
Lu 14:14; 2Co 9:6; Ga 6:8-10; Heb 6:10
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
- Ecclesiastes 11:2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ECHA tu pan sobre las aguas; que después de muchos días lo hallarás. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Jette ton pain sur la face des eaux, car tu le trouveras après bien des jours. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wirf dein Brot hin auf die Fläche der Wasser, denn nach vielen Tagen wirst du es finden. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas, quia post tempora multa invenies illum. |