Ecclesiastes 8:7

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ יֹדֵ֖עַ מַה־שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֑ה כִּ֚י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיֶ֔ה מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

kî-ʾênennû yōdēaʿ mah-that-yihyeh kî as-ʾăšer yihyeh mî yaggîd to-him

Grammar Details

*kî*: conjunction - for/because
*ʾênennû*: negative particle with 3rd masculine singular suffix - he is not
*yōdēaʿ*: qal participle, masculine singular - knowing
*mah*: interrogative pronoun - what
*yihyeh*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will be
*ʾăšer*: relative particle - that/which/when
*mî*: interrogative pronoun - who
*yaggîd*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will tell/declare

Word Meanings

*ʾênennû*: he is not/does not
*yōdēaʿ*: knowing/aware of
*yihyeh*: will be/shall be/come to pass
*yaggîd*: will tell/declare/make known

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Eccl 6:12 : 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 9:12 : 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Eccl 10:14 : 14 A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Prov 24:22 : 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?
Prov 29:1 : 1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Eccl 3:22 : 22 Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Matt 24:44 : 44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matt 24:50 : 50 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,
Matt 25:6-9 : 6 But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
1 Thess 5:1-3 : 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 {G1063} When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 6:10-12
3 verses
81%
10Whatsoever 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.
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 8:6
79%
6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:
Eccl 8:8
79%
8There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it.
Eccl 8:16-17
2 verses
77%
16When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),
17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Job 8:9
76%
9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);
Eccl 9:11-12
2 verses
76%
11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Eccl 10:14
76%
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Eccl 11:5
75%
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
Job 28:13
74%
13Man knoweth not the price thereof; Neither is it found in the land of the living.
Eccl 2:19
74%
19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Jas 4:14
73%
14whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. {G1063} What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Eccl 3:21-22
2 verses
73%
21Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Prov 27:1
73%
1Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Eccl 9:1
73%
1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.
Job 42:3
73%
3Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 9:11-12
2 verses
73%
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Ps 39:6
73%
6[Surely every man] [walketh] [in a vain show;] [Surely they are disquieted] [in vain:] [He heapeth up] [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Eccl 2:16
73%
16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
Eccl 6:8
72%
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
Eccl 3:14
72%
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.
Job 11:10-11
2 verses
72%
10If he pass through, and shut up, And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
11For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
Prov 20:24
72%
24A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
Job 15:9
72%
9What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?
Job 36:26
72%
26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
Eccl 9:5
72%
5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Eccl 7:24
72%
24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
Eccl 11:8
72%
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
Job 7:1
72%
1Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?
Eccl 6:6
72%
6yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?
Eccl 7:13
72%
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Job 24:1
71%
1Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?
Eccl 3:11-12
2 verses
71%
11He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
Eccl 11:2
71%
2Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
Job 7:10
71%
10He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
Job 14:5
71%
5Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Eccl 7:10
71%
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Job 20:4
71%
4Knowest thou [not] this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,
Ps 92:6
71%
6A brutish man knoweth not; Neither doth a fool understand this:
Ps 89:48
71%
48What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? {H5542}
Job 24:22
71%
22Yet [God] preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life.
Eccl 4:16
70%
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 8:1
70%
1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.