Ecclesiastes 9:12
Verse
Context
Enjoy Your Portion in This Life
11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
Sermons
E.A. Johnston
David Wilkerson
Jack Hyles
Samuel Davies
Joseph Parker
Peter Hammond
James BourneSummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"For man also knoweth not his time: like the fishes which are caught in an evil net, and like the birds which are caught in the snare - like them are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it suddenly breaks in upon them." The particles גּם כּי are here not so clearly connected as at Ecc 8:12; Ecc 4:14, where, more correctly, the pointing should be גּם כּי (ki with the conjunct. accent); ki rules the sentence; and gam, as to its meaning, belongs to etḣ'itto. The particular has its reason from the general: man is not master of his own time, his own person, and his own life, and thus not of the fruits of his capabilities and his actions, in spite of the previously favourable conditions which appear to place the result beyond a doubt; for ere the result is reached of which he appears to be able to entertain a certainty, suddenly his time may expire, and his term of life be exhausted. Jerome translate 'itto (cf. Ecc 7:17) rightly by finem suum; עת, with the gen. following, frequently (vid., under Job 24:1) means the point of time when the fate of any one is decided, - the terminus where a reckoning is made; here, directly, the terminus ad quem. The suddenness with which men are frequently overtaken with the catastrophe which puts an end to their life, is seen by comparison with the fishes which are suddenly caught in the net, and the birds which are suddenly caught in the snare. With שׁן (that are caught) there is interchanged, in two variations of expression, האחזות, which is incorrectly written, by v. d. Hooght, Norzi, and others, האחזּ. (Note: Vid., Ed. Knig, Gedanke, Laut u. Accent (1874), p. 72.) מצו, a net, - of which the plur. form Ecc 7:26 is used, - goes back, as does the similar designation of a bulwark (Ecc 9:14), to the root-conception of searching (hunting), and receives here the epithet "evil." Birds, צפּרים (from a ground-form with a short terminal vowel; cf. Assyr. itṣtṣur, from itṣpur), are, on account of their weakness, as at Isa 31:5, as a figure of tender love, represented in the fem. The second half of the verse, in conformity with its structure, begins with כּהם (which more frequently occurs as כּמוהם). יוּק .)כּ is part. Pu. for מיקּשׁים (Ewald, 170d); the particip. מ is rejected, and ק is treated altogether as a guttural, the impracticable doubling of which is compensated for by the lengthening of the vowel. The use of the part. is here stranger than e.g., at Pro 11:13; Pro 15:32; the fact repeating itself is here treated as a property. Like the fish and the birds are they, such as are caught, etc. Otherwise Hitz.: Like these are they caught, during the continuance of their life in the evil time ... ; but the being snared does not, however, according to the double figure, precede the catastrophe, but is its consequence. Rightly, Ginsb.: "Like these are the sons of men ensnared in the time of misfortune." רעה might be adj., as at Amo 5:13; Mic 2:3; but since it lies nearer to refer כּשׁתּ to ra'ah than to 'eth, thus ra'ah, like the frequently occurring yom ra'ah (Ecc 7:14; cf. Jer 17:17 with Jer 15:11), may be thought of as genit. An example of that which is here said is found in the fatal wounding of Ahab by means of an arrow which was not aimed at him, so that he died "at the time of the going down of the sun," Ch2 18:33-34.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
his time--namely, of death (Ecc 7:15; Isa 13:22). Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Ecc 9:10). evil net--fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (Luk 21:35). evil time--as an "evil net," fatal to them.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For man also knoweth not his time,.... Though it is fixed and settled by the Lord, yet times and seasons are kept in his own power, and not known by men; not the time of his death, nor of any calamity and distress coming upon him, nor the proper season and opportunity of doing himself good, and avoiding evil; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; as fishes are suddenly taken in a net, unhappy for them, which is at once east over them, while they are sporting and playing in the water, and catching at the bait; and as birds, being decoyed, are unawares taken in a snare; that is, both of them know not the time of their being caught; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them; they are no more able to guard against a time of adversity and calamity, and the evil of it, which comes at once upon them, than the poor fishes or silly birds are to avoid the net and snare; and are, like them, at such a time, in the utmost security, indulging themselves in ease and pleasure: so the day of death, and of judgment, will come like a thief in the night; or like a snare upon men, when they think nothing of it, but are giving up themselves to their lusts and pleasures; see Th1 5:2; for pleasure, as Plato says, is the bait of evils, with which men are caught, as fishes with the hook (g). (g) Apud Ciceronem de Senectute, c. 12. "Hic ubi saepe occultum visus decurrere piscis ad hamum", Horat. Epist. l. 1. Ep. 8. v. 73, 74.
Ecclesiastes 9:12
Enjoy Your Portion in This Life
11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Four R's of the Gospel: Ruin
By E.A. Johnston70921:07GospelECC 9:12EZK 3:18COL 1:28In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the four key doctrines of Rune, Redemption, Repentance, and Regeneration in the proper order. He highlights the fact that man is not an innocent victim, but a guilty rebel, born with a ruined and depraved nature due to Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. The preacher emphasizes the need for repentance and the recognition of one's sinful nature before experiencing redemption through Jesus Christ. He warns against a partial gospel that only focuses on external behavior without a true heart transformation. The preacher encourages a return to the teachings of old-time preachers who fearfully proclaimed the truth of sin, the cross, and the need for a Savior.
Snared in an Evil Time
By David Wilkerson5971:09:24EvilECC 9:12MAT 6:33LUK 21:341TI 3:7In this sermon, the preacher warns about the snare of Satan and how many people, including Christians, are falling into it. He emphasizes the urgency of being prepared for the evil times that are upon us, as prophesied in the Bible. The preacher highlights the importance of forsaking the world and its temptations, and instead focusing on God and His Word. He also provides six signs of a Christian who is caught in a satanic snare, urging the listeners to examine their hearts and make sure they are not falling into these traps.
Slippery When
By Jack Hyles5261:00:11Christian LifeJDG 3:31PSA 90:12ECC 9:12ISA 38:15MAT 6:33ROM 3:101CO 15:58In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal experience of going door-to-door to evangelize. He encounters a man who is initially resistant but eventually sits down to listen. The preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own sinfulness and the consequences of not accepting Jesus as Savior. He also warns against rushing into leadership roles in the church without proper spiritual growth. The sermon concludes with a reminder to stay committed to serving God and to be mindful of the brevity of life.
This Very Year You Are Going to Die!
By Samuel Davies0PRO 27:1ECC 9:12JER 28:16MAT 24:44LUK 12:20ACT 17:302CO 6:2HEB 9:27JAS 4:14Samuel Davies preaches a powerful sermon at Princeton College in 1761, warning the audience about the certainty and unpredictability of death. He emphasizes the need for serious reflection and preparation to meet the unknown occurrences of life, especially the inevitable event of death. Davies vividly describes the consequences of dying in sin, urging listeners to consider the possibility of their own mortality within the year and the eternal ramifications of being unprepared for death.
Waiting Too Long
By Joseph Parker0PSA 27:14ECC 9:10ECC 9:12MAT 24:46JHN 5:3Joseph Parker preaches about the waiting and groaning of the impotent folk in the porches, likening it to the perpetual crisis of life where we are always on the brink of death. He emphasizes the importance of doing everything with diligence and being found faithful when the Lord returns. Parker highlights the contrast between patient waiting with hope and contentment in God's promises versus fretful impatience and distrust that wear the soul out.
Being Prepared
By Peter Hammond0GEN 6:11GEN 41:331SA 17:45JOB 5:7PRO 3:25PRO 24:10PRO 27:12ECC 9:12MAT 7:24LUK 12:4LUK 22:36ACT 14:22ROM 8:281CO 9:24PHP 4:121TI 4:81TI 5:8Peter Hammond preaches on the importance of being prudent and prepared for adversity, drawing lessons from biblical figures like Noah, Joseph, and the Apostle Paul who faced hardships but trusted in God. The sermon emphasizes the need to fear God alone, make practical preparations for the future, and build a strong foundation on God's Word to endure life's storms. It highlights the significance of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical preparedness, urging believers to trust in God's sovereignty and cultivate a deep personal relationship with Him.
Letter 79
By James Bourne0PSA 99:6ECC 9:12ECC 10:1ECC 10:8JHN 13:14James Bourne encourages his friend to be vigilant in their spiritual walk, warning against the deceitfulness of the heart and the dangers of breaking through the hedge of God's protection. He emphasizes the importance of seeking a clear work of grace in their hearts, being watchful of temptations, and avoiding spiritual complacency. Bourne uses biblical references to illustrate the consequences of straying from God's path and the need for a genuine fear of God in all aspects of life.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"For man also knoweth not his time: like the fishes which are caught in an evil net, and like the birds which are caught in the snare - like them are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it suddenly breaks in upon them." The particles גּם כּי are here not so clearly connected as at Ecc 8:12; Ecc 4:14, where, more correctly, the pointing should be גּם כּי (ki with the conjunct. accent); ki rules the sentence; and gam, as to its meaning, belongs to etḣ'itto. The particular has its reason from the general: man is not master of his own time, his own person, and his own life, and thus not of the fruits of his capabilities and his actions, in spite of the previously favourable conditions which appear to place the result beyond a doubt; for ere the result is reached of which he appears to be able to entertain a certainty, suddenly his time may expire, and his term of life be exhausted. Jerome translate 'itto (cf. Ecc 7:17) rightly by finem suum; עת, with the gen. following, frequently (vid., under Job 24:1) means the point of time when the fate of any one is decided, - the terminus where a reckoning is made; here, directly, the terminus ad quem. The suddenness with which men are frequently overtaken with the catastrophe which puts an end to their life, is seen by comparison with the fishes which are suddenly caught in the net, and the birds which are suddenly caught in the snare. With שׁן (that are caught) there is interchanged, in two variations of expression, האחזות, which is incorrectly written, by v. d. Hooght, Norzi, and others, האחזּ. (Note: Vid., Ed. Knig, Gedanke, Laut u. Accent (1874), p. 72.) מצו, a net, - of which the plur. form Ecc 7:26 is used, - goes back, as does the similar designation of a bulwark (Ecc 9:14), to the root-conception of searching (hunting), and receives here the epithet "evil." Birds, צפּרים (from a ground-form with a short terminal vowel; cf. Assyr. itṣtṣur, from itṣpur), are, on account of their weakness, as at Isa 31:5, as a figure of tender love, represented in the fem. The second half of the verse, in conformity with its structure, begins with כּהם (which more frequently occurs as כּמוהם). יוּק .)כּ is part. Pu. for מיקּשׁים (Ewald, 170d); the particip. מ is rejected, and ק is treated altogether as a guttural, the impracticable doubling of which is compensated for by the lengthening of the vowel. The use of the part. is here stranger than e.g., at Pro 11:13; Pro 15:32; the fact repeating itself is here treated as a property. Like the fish and the birds are they, such as are caught, etc. Otherwise Hitz.: Like these are they caught, during the continuance of their life in the evil time ... ; but the being snared does not, however, according to the double figure, precede the catastrophe, but is its consequence. Rightly, Ginsb.: "Like these are the sons of men ensnared in the time of misfortune." רעה might be adj., as at Amo 5:13; Mic 2:3; but since it lies nearer to refer כּשׁתּ to ra'ah than to 'eth, thus ra'ah, like the frequently occurring yom ra'ah (Ecc 7:14; cf. Jer 17:17 with Jer 15:11), may be thought of as genit. An example of that which is here said is found in the fatal wounding of Ahab by means of an arrow which was not aimed at him, so that he died "at the time of the going down of the sun," Ch2 18:33-34.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
his time--namely, of death (Ecc 7:15; Isa 13:22). Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Ecc 9:10). evil net--fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (Luk 21:35). evil time--as an "evil net," fatal to them.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For man also knoweth not his time,.... Though it is fixed and settled by the Lord, yet times and seasons are kept in his own power, and not known by men; not the time of his death, nor of any calamity and distress coming upon him, nor the proper season and opportunity of doing himself good, and avoiding evil; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; as fishes are suddenly taken in a net, unhappy for them, which is at once east over them, while they are sporting and playing in the water, and catching at the bait; and as birds, being decoyed, are unawares taken in a snare; that is, both of them know not the time of their being caught; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them; they are no more able to guard against a time of adversity and calamity, and the evil of it, which comes at once upon them, than the poor fishes or silly birds are to avoid the net and snare; and are, like them, at such a time, in the utmost security, indulging themselves in ease and pleasure: so the day of death, and of judgment, will come like a thief in the night; or like a snare upon men, when they think nothing of it, but are giving up themselves to their lusts and pleasures; see Th1 5:2; for pleasure, as Plato says, is the bait of evils, with which men are caught, as fishes with the hook (g). (g) Apud Ciceronem de Senectute, c. 12. "Hic ubi saepe occultum visus decurrere piscis ad hamum", Horat. Epist. l. 1. Ep. 8. v. 73, 74.