Ecclesiastes 6:6

6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

Ecclesiastes 6:6 in Other Translations

6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

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

6 He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use?

6 Even if someone lived a thousand years - make it two thousand! - but didn't enjoy anything, what's the point? Doesn't everyone end up in the same place?

6 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?

6 Even if the rich person lives two thousand years without experiencing anything good--don't we all go to the same place?

6 And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?

6 And that's true even if he lives for 2,000 years but doesn't get to enjoy his wealth. All people die and go to the grave, don't they?

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Ecclesiastes 6:6 In-Context

4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—

6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?

Cross References

• 1. Ecclesiastes 2:14