Ecclesiastes 6 · Verse 10

Ecclesiastes 6:10

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.
Ecclesiastes 6:10, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 6:10 in other translations

BSBWhatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
WEBWhatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
ASVWhatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.
YLTWhat is that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it is man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.
DARBYThat which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.
BBEThat which is, has been named before, and of what man is there is knowledge. He has no power against one stronger than he.
WebsterThat 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.

What does Ecclesiastes 6:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Part II begins here. Since man's toils are vain, what is the chief good? (Ec 6:12). The answer is contained in the rest of the book. That which hath been--man's various circumstances is named already--not only has existed, Ec 1:9; 3:15, but has received its just name, "vanity," long ago, and it is known that it--vanity is man--Hebrew, "Adam," equivalent to man "of red dust," as his Creator appropriately named him from his frailty. neither may he contend, &c.--(Ro 9:20).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 That which hath been is named already - The Hebrew of this verse might be translated, "Who is he who is? His name has been already called. And it is known that he is Adam; and that he cannot contend in judgment with him who is stronger than he." "What is more excellent than man; yet can he not, in the lawe, get the victory of him that is mightier than he." - Coverdale. Adam is his name; and it at once points out, 1. His dignity; he was made in the image of God. 2. His fall; he sinned against his Maker and was cast out of Paradise. And 3. His recovery by Christ; the second man (Adam) was the Lord from heaven, and a quickening Spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 6:7-12

A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 →

Ecclesiastes 6:10 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.

מַה\־mah-whateverH4100
שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗הshe.ha.Yah[that] which <it> has beenH1961
כְּבָר֙ke.VaralreadyH3528
נִקְרָ֣אnik.Ra'it has been namedH7121
שְׁמ֔וֹshe.Moname itsH8034
וְנוֹדָ֖עve.no.Da'and [is] knownH3045
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[that] whichH834
ה֣וּאhu'heH1931
אָדָ֑ם'a.Damhumankind [is]H120
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יוּכַ֣לyu.Khalhe is ableH3201
לָדִ֔יןla.Dinto contendH1777
עִ֥ם'imwithH5973
שֶׁתַּקִּ֖יףshe.hat.kif[one] who [is] mightyH8623
מִמֶּֽנּוּ\׃mi.Me.numore than himH4480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 6:10

  • Job 9:32

    For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

  • Isaiah 45:9-10

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

  • Job 40:2

    Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

  • Romans 9:19-20

    Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

  • Genesis 3:17-19

    And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:15

    That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

  • Jeremiah 49:19

    Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

  • Job 33:13

    Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Job 9:3-4

    If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

  • Psalms 82:6-7

    I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

  • Job 14:1-4

    Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
which.
1:9-11; 3:15
and it.
Ge 3:9,17-19; Job 14:1-4; Ps 39:6; 82:6,7; 103:15
neither.
Job 9:3,4,32; 33:13; 40:2; Isa 45:9,10; Jer 49:19; Ro 9:19,20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 6:9

    Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:10

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:11

    Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que es, ya su nombre ha sido nombrado; y se sabe que es hombre, y que no podrá contender con el que es más fuerte que él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ce qui existe a déjà été appelé de son nom; et on sait ce qu’est l’homme, et qu’il ne peut contester avec celui qui est plus fort que lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was entsteht, schon längst war sein Name genannt; und es ist bekannt, was ein Mensch sein wird, und er vermag nicht mit dem zu rechten, der stärker ist als er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui futurus est, jam vocatum est nomen ejus; et scitur quod homo sit, et non possit contra fortiorem se in judicio contendere.