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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 11:1–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
CAST thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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6 selected · 4 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

28 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:6Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

  2. Proverbs 19:17Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

  3. Hebrews 6:10Rank 3 from verse 1
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    10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

  4. Matthew 10:42Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

  5. 2 Corinthians 9:6Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

From verse 2

  1. 1 Timothy 6:18–19Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

    19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

  2. Job 5:19Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    19He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

  3. Psalms 112:9Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

  4. Luke 6:30–35Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

    31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

    32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

    33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

    34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

    35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

  5. Proverbs 6:16Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    16¶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

From verse 3

  1. 1 John 3:17Rank 1 from verse 3
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    17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  2. Isaiah 55:10–11Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

    11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

  3. Psalms 65:9–13Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

    10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

    11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

    12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

    13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

  4. Luke 13:7Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

  5. 1 Kings 18:45Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

From verse 4

  1. Proverbs 20:4Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

  2. Proverbs 3:27Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    27¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

  3. Proverbs 22:13Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

From verse 5

  1. John 3:8Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

  2. Psalms 92:5Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    5O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

  3. Ecclesiastes 8:17Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

  4. Romans 11:33Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

  5. Isaiah 40:28Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    28¶ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

From verse 6

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:10–11Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

    11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

  2. Isaiah 55:10Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

  3. Haggai 1:6–11Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

    7¶ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

    8Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

    9Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

    10Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

    11And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

  4. Hosea 10:12Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

  5. 2 Corinthians 9:6Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:1

COMBINED MEANING

cast

↗

1. To throw, send, put, lay, or direct a person or thing into, upon, around, toward, or away from a place, or into a stated condition. 2. To put away, reject, expel, remove, overthrow, or bring down. 3. To put forth or use a lot for choosing, dividing, or assigning. 4. To form an object by pouring molten material into a mould. 5. To shed, drop, or bring forth young, fruit, leaves, or flowers. 6. To raise, form, or prepare a bank, mount, trench, or way. 7. In "cast ... in his teeth," to reproach or charge something against him. 8. As a noun, the distance something may be thrown.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:2

COMBINED MEANING

portion

↗

A part, share, allotment, inheritance, assigned duty, reward, or outcome belonging or given to someone.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:3

COMBINED MEANING

clouds

↗

Sense 1: Visible masses of condensed vapour in the sky. Sense 2: Figures of covering, multitude, or obscurity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rain

↗

Sense 1: Water falling in drops from the clouds. Sense 2: As a verb, to fall or pour down like rain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

empty

↗

Sense 1: Containing nothing; void, unfilled, destitute, or without effect. Sense 2: To pour out or deprive of contents.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fall

↗

Sense 1: To descend, drop, or lose an upright position. Sense 2: To be slain, defeated, overthrown, ruined, or brought down. Sense 3: To come upon or attack. Sense 4: To pass into a specified place, condition, power, or course, or to depart from a former standing. Sense 5: To happen, turn out, or be allotted. Sense 6: As a noun, descent, overthrow, ruin, or loss of standing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

toward

↗

1. In the direction of or in relation to. 2. Approaching. 3. Inclined or ready.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

north

↗

The direction or quarter opposite south; the side or region toward that quarter.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

place

↗

Sense 1: A physical location or room. Sense 2: A position or office. Sense 3: An occasion, circumstance, or passage. Sense 4: To set, fix, locate, or establish.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

falleth

↗

1. Comes or goes down, drops, collapses, bows, or is overthrown. 2. Comes upon or enters a state or condition. 3. Of a lot or portion, is assigned or belongs. 4. In ‘falleth out,’ happens or occurs. 5. In ‘falleth to,’ yields or goes over to another side.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:4

COMBINED MEANING

wind

↗

Sense 1: Air in motion; a current of air. Sense 2: Breath or a movement of air from breathing. Sense 3: By figure, something empty, unstable, or passing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

sow

↗

Sense 1: To scatter or plant seed. Sense 2: Figuratively, to spread what will produce a result. Sense 3: An adult female swine.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

clouds

↗

Sense 1: Visible masses of condensed vapour in the sky. Sense 2: Figures of covering, multitude, or obscurity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reap

↗

Sense 1: To cut and gather a crop. Sense 2: By figure, to receive the result or reward of actions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:5

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

womb

↗

Sense 1: The bodily place in a female where a child is conceived and carried before birth. Sense 2: A source pictured as such a place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

works

↗

Plural of work: acts, deeds, labours, operations, products, or things made.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

maketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of make (to form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 11:6

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

morning

↗

Sense 1: The beginning or early part of the day, including hours before daylight. Sense 2: The dawn or a beginning compared with dawn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sow

↗

Sense 1: To scatter or plant seed. Sense 2: Figuratively, to spread what will produce a result. Sense 3: An adult female swine.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

seed

↗

Sense 1: The reproductive substance of a plant or creature, especially what is sown to produce after its kind. Sense 2: Offspring, descendants, or lineage. Sense 3: A beginning, source, or thing sown that produces a result.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

prosper

↗

To succeed, advance, thrive, flourish, increase, or accomplish an intended purpose.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1CAST thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Selected passage

2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Selected passage

3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Selected passage

4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Selected passage

5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

Selected passage

6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Selected passage

7¶ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

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