---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ecclesiastes 11"
description: "CHAPTER 11   :-. 1.  :- shows that charity is here inculcated. bread—bread corn. As in
the Lord"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ecclesiastes/11"
---

CHAPTER 11

.

**1.** shows that *charity* is here inculcated.
**bread**—bread corn. As in
the Lord's prayer, *all things needful for the body and soul.*
Solomon reverts to the sentiment ().
**waters**—image from the
custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into the overflowing
waters of the Nile, or in any marshy ground. When the waters receded,
the grain in the alluvial soil sprang up (). "Waters" express *multitudes,* so [Ecclesiastes 11:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/2);
[Revelation 17:15](../../../kjv/revelation/17/15); also the seemingly
*hopeless* character of the recipients of the charity; but it
shall prove at last to have been not thrown away ([Revelation 17:15](../../../kjv/revelation/17/15)).

**2. portion**—of thy bread.
**seven**—the perfect
number.
**eight**—even *to more
than seven;* that is, "to many" (so "waters,"
[Ecclesiastes 11:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/1)), nay, even to *very
many* in need ([Job 5:19](../../../kjv/job/5/19);
[Micah 5:5](../../../kjv/micah/5/5)).
**evil**—The day may be
near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you
by kindnesses ([Luke 16:9](../../../kjv/luke/16/9)). The
very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that
bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.

**3. clouds**—answering to "evil"
([Ecclesiastes 11:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/2)), meaning, When the
times of evil are fully ripe, evil *must* come; and speculations
about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality,
are vain ([Ecclesiastes 11:4](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/4)).
**tree**—Once the storm
uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it
fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven,
once that death overtakes him ([Revelation 22:11](../../../kjv/revelation/22/11);
[Revelation 22:14](../../../kjv/revelation/22/14); [Revelation 22:15](../../../kjv/revelation/22/15)).
*Now* is his time for liberality, before the evil days come ([Revelation 22:15](../../../kjv/revelation/22/15)).

**4.** Therefore sow thy charity in
faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they
may not seem promising ([Ecclesiastes 9:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/10)).
So in [Ecclesiastes 11:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/1), man is told to
"cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters"
([Psalms 126:5](../../../kjv/psalms/126/5); [Psalms 126:6](../../../kjv/psalms/126/6)).
The farmer would get on badly, who, instead of sowing and reaping,
spent his time in watching the wind and clouds.

**5. spirit**—How the *soul*
animates the body! Thus the transition to the formation of the *body*
"in the womb" is more natural, than if with MAURER
we translate it "wind" ([Ecclesiastes 1:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/1/6);
[John 3:8](../../../kjv/john/3/8)).
**bones . . . grow**—
([Job 10:8](../../../kjv/job/10/8); [Job 10:9](../../../kjv/job/10/9);
[Psalms 139:15](../../../kjv/psalms/139/15); [Psalms 139:16](../../../kjv/psalms/139/16)).
**knowest not the works of God**—
([Ecclesiastes 3:11](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/11); [Ecclesiastes 8:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/17);
[Ecclesiastes 9:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/12)).

**6. morning . . . evening**—early
and late; when young and when old; in sunshine and under clouds.
**seed**—of godly works
([Hosea 10:12](../../../kjv/hosea/10/12); [2 Corinthians 9:10](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/10);
[Galatians 6:7](../../../kjv/galatians/6/7)).
**prosper**— ([Isaiah 55:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/10);
[Isaiah 55:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/11)).
**both . . . alike**—Both
the unpromising and the promising sowing may bear good fruit in
*others;* certainly they shall to the faithful *sower.*

**7. light**—of life ([Ecclesiastes 7:11](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/11);
[Psalms 49:19](../../../kjv/psalms/49/19)). Life is enjoyable,
especially to the godly.

**8.** But while man thankfully
enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever.
The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world
([Job 10:21](../../../kjv/job/10/21); [Job 10:22](../../../kjv/job/10/22);
[Psalms 88:12](../../../kjv/psalms/88/12)), also days of "evil"
in this world ([Ecclesiastes 11:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/2)), are
coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last,
which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties.
**All that cometh**—that
is, All that followeth in the *evil* and *dark days* is
vain, as far as *work for God* is concerned ([Ecclesiastes 11:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/2)).

**9. Rejoice**—not *advice,*
but *warning.* So [1 Kings 22:15](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/15),
is irony; if thou dost rejoice (*carnally,* [Ecclesiastes 2:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/2);
[Ecclesiastes 7:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/2), not *moderately,*
as in [Ecclesiastes 5:18](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/18)), c., then "know
that . . . God will bring thee into judgment" ([Ecclesiastes 3:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/17)
[Ecclesiastes 12:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/14)).
**youth . . . youth**—distinct
*Hebrew* words, *adolescence* or boyhood (before [Ecclesiastes 12:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/14)), and full-grown *youth.* It marks the gradual
progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone;
they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by
them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely
more ([Luke 14:28](../../../kjv/luke/14/28)).

**10. sorrow**—that is, *the
lusts* that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice,"
and "heart cheer thee" (), *Margin,* "anger," that is, all "ways
of thine heart"; "remove," c., is thus opposed to
"walk in," &c. ().
**flesh**—the bodily organ
by which the sensual *thoughts* of the "heart" are
embodied in *acts.*
**childhood**—rather,
"boyhood" the same *Hebrew* word as the first, "youth"
in [Ecclesiastes 11:9](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/9). A motive for
self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which
thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given
to God ([Ecclesiastes 12:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/1)).
**youth**—literally, *the
dawn* of thy days.

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