Ecclesiastes 6:6

6 For though the other should live a thousand years twice and has not enjoyed good; both shall surely go to the same 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 he came in vain and departs unto darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Even though he has not seen the sun nor known any thing; this one has more rest than the other.
6 For though the other should live a thousand years twice and has not enjoyed good; both shall surely go to the same place.
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and with all this the appetite is not filled.
8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what more has the poor that knows how to walk among the living?
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010