Ecclesiastes 11:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how bones are formed in a pregnant woman's womb, so you cannot understand the workings of God who makes everything.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽינְךָ֤ יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ מַה־דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָר֔וּחַ כַּעֲצָמִ֖ים בְּבֶ֣טֶן הַמְּלֵאָ֑ה כָּ֗כָה לֹ֤א תֵדַע֙ אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל׃

Transliteration

As-which you-not yôdēaʿ what-dereḵ the-rûaḥ as-ʿăṣāmîm in-beṭen the-mĕlēʾāh thus not tēdaʿ [direct object marker]-maʿăśēh the-ʾĕlōhîm which yaʿăśeh [direct object marker]-the-all

Grammar Details

• *yôdēaʿ*: qal participle, masculine singular - knowing
• *dereḵ*: noun, masculine singular construct - way of/path of
• *rûaḥ*: noun, feminine singular - wind/spirit
• *ʿăṣāmîm*: noun, feminine plural - bones
• *beṭen*: noun, feminine singular construct - womb/belly of
• *mĕlēʾāh*: adjective, feminine singular - full/pregnant woman
• *tēdaʿ*: qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you will know
• *maʿăśēh*: noun, masculine singular construct - work/deed of
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural - God
• *yaʿăśeh*: qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will do/make

Word Meanings

• *dereḵ*: way/path/journey
• *rûaḥ*: wind/breath/spirit
• *ʿăṣāmîm*: bones/substance/essence
• *beṭen*: womb/belly/inner part
• *mĕlēʾāh*: full one/pregnant woman
• *maʿăśēh*: work/deed/action
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine being

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  As you do not know the way of the spirit, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  As 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Now like as thou knowest not the waye of the wynde, ner how ye bones are fylled in a mothers wombe: Euen so thou knowest not the workes of God, which is the workemaster of all.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  As thou knowest not which is ye way of the spirit, nor how the bones doe growe in the wombe of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Nowe like as thou knowest not the way of the spirite, nor howe the bones do growe in the wombe of her that is with chylde: Euen so thou knowest not the workes of God, which is the workmaster of all.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  As you don't know what is the way of the wind, Nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; Even so you don't know the work of God who does all.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  As thou knowest not what `is' the way of the spirit, How -- bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  As 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  As 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.

• World English Bible (2000)

  As you don't know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don't know the work of God who does all.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

Referenced Verses

• John 3:8 : 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
• Eccl 8:17 : 17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.
• Ps 92:5 : 5 For You have made me glad by Your work, O LORD; I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
• Ps 104:24 : 24 How many are Your works, LORD! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
• Ps 139:13-16 : 13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
• Eccl 7:24 : 24 What exists is far off and exceedingly deep—who can discover it?
• Job 5:9 : 9 He performs great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
• Job 26:5-9 : 5 The dead tremble beneath the waters and those who dwell in them. 6 Sheol is naked before him; Abaddon has no covering. 7 He stretches out the north over empty space; he hangs the earth upon nothing. 8 He binds up the waters in his clouds, yet the cloud is not torn apart beneath them. 9 He covers the face of his throne and spreads his cloud over it. 10 He inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. 12 By his power he stilled the sea, and by his understanding he struck down Rahab. 13 By his breath the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 14 Behold, these are but the edges of his ways, and how faint is the whisper we hear of him! But the thunder of his power—who can understand?
• Job 36:24-33 : 24 Remember to extol His work, which men have sung about. 25 All mankind has looked upon it; man beholds it from afar. 26 Behold, God is great, and we do not comprehend Him; the number of His years is unsearchable. 27 For He draws up the drops of water; they distill as rain into His mist. 28 The clouds pour it out; they drip upon mankind in abundance. 29 Moreover, can anyone understand the expanse of the clouds, or the thunderings of His pavilion? 30 Behold, He spreads His light over it and covers the depths of the sea. 31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. 32 He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike its target. 33 Its thundering declares His presence; the storm speaks of His power.
• Job 37:23 : 23 The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is great in power, and in justice and abundant righteousness, He does not oppress.
• Job 38:4-39:30 : 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the measuring line across it? 6 On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone? 7 While the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who enclosed the sea with doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I set its boundary and placed bars and doors on it, 11 and said, 'This far you may come, but no farther; here is where your proud waves must halt.' 12 Have you ever commanded the morning or shown the dawn its place, 13 that it might take hold of the edges of the earth and shake the wicked out of it? 14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like a garment. 15 The light is withheld from the wicked, and the uplifted arm is broken. 16 Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. 19 Where is the way that light dwells, and where is the place of darkness, 20 that you may take it to its boundary and recognize the paths to its home? 21 Surely you know, since you were already born, and the number of your days is great! 22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, 23 which I have reserved for a time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? 24 What is the way to the place where the light is divided, or the east wind scattered over the earth? 25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain and a path for the thunderstorm, 26 to water a land where no man lives, an uninhabited desert, 27 to satisfy the desolate and waste ground and make the dry, barren land produce grass? 28 Does the rain have a father, or who gives birth to the dew drops? 29 From whose womb does the ice come forth? Who gives birth to the frost of the heavens, 30 when the waters become hard as stone and the surface of the deep is frozen? 31 Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the cords of Orion? 32 Can you bring out the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Great Bear with its cubs? 33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up their dominion over the earth? 34 Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? 35 Can you send forth lightning bolts and have them go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? 36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 37 Who can count the clouds with wisdom or tilt the water jars of the heavens, 38 when the dust becomes hard as metal and the clods of earth stick together? 39 Can you hunt prey for the lion or satisfy the hunger of young lions, 40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in the thicket? 41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about without food? 1 Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Can you observe the labor of the deer? 2 Can you count the months they fulfill, or do you know the time when they give birth? 3 They crouch down, give birth to their young, and deliver their offspring. 4 Their young grow strong, thrive in the open field, and leave, never returning to them. 5 Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the bonds of the onager? 6 I made the wilderness its home and the barren land its dwelling place. 7 It laughs at the commotion of the city; it does not hear the shouts of the driver. 8 It searches the mountains for its grazing, pursuing every green thing. 9 Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will it spend the night at your manger? 10 Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with a rope? Can it harrow the valleys behind you? 11 Will you trust it because its strength is great and leave your labor to it? 12 Can you rely on it to bring back your grain and gather it to your threshing floor? 13 The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork? 14 She leaves her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the dust. 15 She forgets that a foot may crush them or a wild animal may trample them. 16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; her labor is in vain because she has no fear. 17 For God has deprived her of wisdom and has not given her understanding. 18 When she rises on high, she mocks the horse and its rider. 19 Do you give strength to the horse or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? 20 Do you make it leap like a locust, its majestic snorting filling the air with terror? 21 It paws eagerly in the valley, rejoices in its strength, and charges into the battle. 22 It laughs at fear, unshaken and undeterred by the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against it, along with the flashing spear and javelin. 24 With fierce excitement and rage, it devours the ground, unable to stand still when it hears the trumpet sound. 25 At the sound of the trumpet, it says, 'Aha!' It scents the battle from afar, the thunder of commanders and the war cries. 26 Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south? 27 Does the eagle soar at your command and build its nest on high? 28 It dwells and lodges on the rocky crag, on the sharp point of the cliff and its stronghold. 29 From there it searches for food; its eyes see it from afar. 30 Its young ones drink blood, and where the slain are, there it is.
• Ps 40:5 : 5 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust and does not turn to the proud or to those who follow falsehoods.
• Isa 40:28 : 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
• Rom 11:33 : 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His ways beyond tracing out!