Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse encourages persistent action by highlighting our profound ignorance of future outcomes. We're not meant to discern which specific "seed" of effort will flourish, but rather to embrace the reality that all our diligent, good works have potential value, whether in youth or old age, early or late.
This verse comes at the end of a section urging the wealthy to be generous and active in doing good during their prosperous times. It builds on the idea of scattering seeds of kindness and good deeds, likening them to planting in uncertain conditions, because the true results of our actions, whether in youth or old age, are hidden from us.
The Bible calls us to be active, not just when it's easy, but always. This verse encourages a mindset of continuous generosity and action.
The call to 'sow your seed' in the 'morning' and 'at evening' isn't just about different times of day. It speaks to the entirety of life.
Sow Throughout Your Life
This teaches us that faithfulness isn't a season; it's a lifestyle. We are to be actively doing good consistently, from our earliest days to our last.
We often measure success by immediate outcomes. But this verse reminds us that the results of our good deeds are not entirely ours to control or even fully understand.
The phrase 'for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good' is a profound statement about humility and trust.
The Limits of Our Knowledge
This frees us from the pressure of perfect strategy and paralyzing doubt. Our responsibility is to sow faithfully; God's sovereignty is in the harvest. This encourages us to act with a pure heart, trusting that God will bring good from our obedience, even when the results aren't obvious to us.
Understand the original words
zara` · Hebrew Verb
To plant or scatter seed, often used metaphorically in Scripture for actions, words, or efforts that yield a harvest or result in the future. It implies diligence and reliance on God for the outcome.
This passage echoes Ecclesiastes 11:6 by stating we reap what we sow, encouraging continuous good deeds because we can't always predict the outcome of our actions.
2 Corinthians 9:6This verse connects by highlighting the unpredictable harvest of sowing generously, mirroring the uncertainty of which deed will prosper mentioned in Ecclesiastes.
Proverbs 19:17This proverb reinforces the wisdom of kindness and generosity, suggesting that showing mercy to the poor is a loan to the Lord, who will repay, much like the hidden rewards of sowing mentioned in Ecclesiastes.
John 9:4Jesus' words here speak to the urgency of working while it is day, which aligns with the spirit of Ecclesiastes 11:6 to be continually active in good deeds, as the time for work is limited and unknown.
Matthew 13:3-9The Parable of the Sower illustrates that seeds sown in different soils yield varying results, reminding us that while we sow, God ultimately determines the growth and prosperity of our efforts.
jfbEcclesiastes 11:6: "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."
- morning … evening—early and late; when young and when old; in sunshine and under clouds.seed—of godly works (Ho 10:12; 2Co 9:10; Ga 6:7).prosper—(Isa 55:10, 11).both … alike—Both the unpromising and the promising sowing may bear good fruit in others; certainly they shall to the faithful sower.
ellicottEcclesiastes 11:6: "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."
(6) Prosper. —The word is used again in Ecclesiastes 10:10 and Esther 8:5 , and belongs to modern Hebrew. (Comp. Galatians 6:7-8 .)
The verse encourages persistent action by highlighting our profound ignorance of future outcomes. We're not meant to discern which specific "seed" of effort will flourish, but rather to embrace the reality that all our diligent, good works have potential value, whether in youth or old age, early or late.
This verse comes at the end of a section urging the wealthy to be generous and active in doing good during their prosperous times. It builds on the idea of scattering seeds of kindness and good deeds, likening them to planting in uncertain conditions, because the true results of our actions, whether in youth or old age, are hidden from us.
This verse comes at the end of a section urging the wealthy to be generous and active in doing good during their prosperous times. It builds on the idea of scattering seeds of kindness and good deeds, likening them to planting in uncertain conditions, because the true results of our actions, whether in youth or old age, are hidden from us.
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"In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good." — The verse encourages persistent action by highlighting our profound ignorance of future outcomes. We're not meant to discern which specific "seed" of effort will flourish, but rather to embrace the r…
