Ecclesiastes 8:6

6 For to every thing there is time and judgment; for the knowledge of a man is great to him.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:6

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment
There is a fit season, and a right and proper manner of doing everything that is to be done; see ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ) ; which a wise man discerns; and which when a man hits upon, it prevents a great deal of mischief, which for want of it comes upon men, as the following clause shows; some refer this to the punishment of the wicked, and to a future judgment. So the Targum,

``to every business there is a time good and evil, and according to the judgment of truth the whole world is judged;''

and to the same purpose Jarchi,

``there is a time fixed for the visitation of the wicked, and there is judgment before the Lord; this is vengeance or punishment;''

therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him;
he not observing the right time and manner of doing what he ought, brings much trouble upon himself; his days are few and full trouble, and every day has a sufficiency of evil in because of the evil of sin, the evil of misery presses upon him, and is a heavy burden on him Jarchi's note is,

``when the wickedness of a man is great, then cometh his visitation.''

Ecclesiastes 8:6 In-Context

4 even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou?

5 He that keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing: and the heart of the wise knows the time of judgment.

6 For to every thing there is time and judgment; for the knowledge of a man is great to him.

7 For there is no one that knows what is going to be: for who shall tell him how it shall be?

8 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and there is no power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in the day of the battle; neither shall ungodliness save her votary.