Ecclesiastes 6:6

6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?

Ecclesiastes 6:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 6:6

Yea, though he live a thousand years twice [told]
Or two thousand years, which no man ever did, nor even one thousand years; Methuselah, the oldest man, did not live so long as that; this is than twice the age of the oldest man: there is one sort of the Ethiopians, who are said F1 to live almost half space of time longer than usual, called from thence Macrobii; which Pliny F2 makes to be one hundred and forty years, which is just double the common term of life. This here is only a supposition. Aben Ezra interprets it, "a thousand thousand", but wrongly; so the Arabic version, "though he lives many thousand years"; yet hath he seen no good,
not enjoyed the good of his labour, what he has been labouring for and was possessed of; and therefore has lived so long as he has to very little purpose, and with very little comfort or credit; and especially he has had no experience of spiritual good; do not all go to one place?
that is, the grave; they do, even all men; it is the house appointed for all living, ( Job 30:23 ) ; and hither go both the abortive, and the covetous rich man; so that he has in this no pre-eminence to it. Jarchi interprets it of hell, the one place, whither all sinners go; but the former sense is best.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Mela tie Situ Orbis, l. 3. c. 9.
F2 Nat. Hist. 1. 7. c. 2.

Ecclesiastes 6:6 In-Context

4 For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;
5 moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.
6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?
7 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied.
8 For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.