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Ecclesiastes 3:11 | HE has made everything beautiful in its time. HE has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that GOD has done from beginning to end.

[Romans 11:33; Genesis 1:31; Job 5:9; Proverbs 16:4; Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 7:13; Ecclesiastes 7:23; Ecclesiastes 8:17; Ecclesiastes 11:5]

Romans 11:33 | O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom & knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable HIS judgments, & untraceable HIS ways!

Genesis 1:31 | And GOD looked upon all that HE had made, & indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, & there was morning—the 6th day.

Job 5:9 | the One who does great & unsearchable things, wonders without number.

Proverbs 16:4 | The LORD has made everything for HIS purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 | And I set my mind to seek & explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden GOD has laid on the children of men to keep them occupied!

Ecclesiastes 7:13 | Consider the work of GOD: Who can straighten what HE has bent?

Ecclesiastes 7:23 | All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

Ecclesiastes 8:17 | I saw every work of GOD, & that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 | As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of GOD, the Maker of all things.

fathom, יִמְצָ֣א (yim·ṣā) Strong's Hebrew 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

the work, הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֛ה (ham·ma·‘ă·śeh) Strong's Hebrew 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

Pulpit Commentary by Donald Spence Jones [1836-1917] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

HE hath made every thing beautiful in HIS [its] time. "Everything:" does not refer so much to the original creation which GOD made very good [Genesis 1:31], as to the travail & business mentioned in v.10.

All parts of this have, in GOD's design, a beauty & a harmony, their own season for appearance development, their work to do in carrying on the majestic march of Providence.

Also HE hath set the world in their heart. "The world;" eth-haolam, placed [as haeol above] before the verb, with eth, to emphasize the relation.

There is some uncertainty in the translation of this word.

The original meaning is “the hidden," & it is used generally in the OT of the remote past, & sometimes of the future, as Daniel 3:33 [Daniel 4:3],

so that the idea conveyed is unknown duration, whether the glance looks backward ward, which is equivalent to our word "eternity.

It is only in later Hebrew that the word obtained the signification of "age" [αἰών], or "world" in its relation to time.

Commentators who have adopted the latter here explain the expression as if it mean that man in himself is a microcosm, a little world, or that the love of the world, the love of life, is naturally implanted in him.

But taking the term in the signification found throughout the BIBLE, we are justified in translating it "eternity.”

The pronoun in "their heart" refers to "the sons of men" in the previous verse.

GOD has put into men's minds a notion of infinity of duration; the beginning & the end of things are alike beyond HIS grasp; the time to be born, & time to die are equally unknown & uncontrollable.

Koheleth is not thinking of that hope of immortality which HIS WORDS unfold to us with our better knowledge; he is speculating on the innate faculty of looking backward & forward which man possesses, but which is insufficient to solve the problems which present themselves every day.

This conception of eternity may be the foundation of great hopes & expectations, but as an explanation of the ways of Providence it fails.

So that no man can find out the work that GOD makes from the beginning to the end; or, without man being able to penetrate; yet so that he cannot, etc.

Man sees only minute parts of the great whole; he cannot comprehend all at one view, cannot understand the law that regulates the time & season of every circumstance in the history of man & the world.

He feels that, as there has been an infinite past, there will be an infinite future, which may solve anomalies & demonstrate the harmonious unity of GOD’s design, & he must be content to wait & hope.

Comparison of the past with the present may help to adumbrate the future, but is inadequate to unravel the complicated thread of the world’s history

[comp. Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, & Ecclesiastes 9:1, where a similar thought is expressed]

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 | When I applied my mind to know wisdom & to observe the task that one performs on the earth —though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night— I saw every work of GOD, & that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Charles John Ellicott, Christian Theologian [1819–1905] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

�� [11] In HIS time—In modern English, “its.” The world—The word here translated “world that meaning in post-Biblical Hebrew but neOTe Old Testament, where it occurs over 300 times.

And if we adopt the rendering “world,” it is difficult to explain the v.so as to connect it with the context.

Where the word occurs elsewhere it means “eternity,” or “long duration,” & is so used in this book [Ecclesiastes 1:4; Ecclesiastes 1:10; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Ecclesiastes 9:6; Ecclesiastes 12:5].

Taking this meaning of the word here [the only place where the word is used with the article], we may regard it as contrasted with that for “time,” or season immediately before.

Life exhibits a changing succession of weeping alternating with laughing, war with peace, & so forth.

For each of these GOD has appointed its time or season, & in its season each is good.

But man does not recognise this; for GOD has put in his heart an expectation & longing for abiding continuance of the same, & so he fails to unde stand the work which GOD does in the world.

So that no—The connecting phrase here employed is rendered “because none” [Deuteronomy 9 28; 2 Kings 6:3], so that none” [Jeremiah 9:10; Zephaniah 3:6, &c].

End—Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Joel 2:20; 2 Chronicles 20:16].

Joseph Benson, English Methodist [1749–1821] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

HE hath made every thing beautiful in HIS time — This seems to be added as an apology for GOD’s providence, notwithstanding all the contrar events & confusions wh

ch are in the world. He hath made — Or, dot make, or do, providence in the government of t

world; every t Which HE doth, either immediately, or by the mini men, or other creatures; beautiful —

Convenient at, all things considered, it could not have been

et its time — Or season, when it was most fit to be done.

Many events seem to men’s shallow judgments to be very irregular & unbecoming, as when wicked men prosper & good men are oppressed; but when men shall thoroughly understand GOD’s works, & the whole frame & contexture of them, & see the end of them, they will say, All th

ings were donewisely.HE hath set the world, &c. — It is true, GOD hath put the world into men’s hearts, or made them capable of observing all HIS dispensations in the world; but this is to be understood with a limitation, because there are some more mysterious works of GOD which no man can fully understand, because HE cannot search them out from the beginning to theend.

Matthew Henry, Nonconformist Minister [1662-1714] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 | HE has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that GOD has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to rejoice & do good while they live, & also that every man should eat & drink & find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of GOD. I know that everything GOD does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. GOD does it so that men should revere HIM. What exists has already been, & what will be has already been, for GOD will call to account what has passed.

3:11-15 Every thing is as GOD made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts & cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see GOD's hand in them.

The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of GOD's works.

We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is short & uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time.

Satisfaction with Divine Providence, is having faith that all things work together for good to them that love him.

GOD does all, that men should fear before him.

The world, as it has been, is, & will be.

There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it taken us, but such as is common to men.

Albert Barnes, American Theologian [1798-1870] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

Rather, HE hath made all [the travail, Ecclesiastes 3:10] beautiful [fit, in harmony with the whole work of GOD] in its time; also HE hath set eternity in their heart [i.

e., the heart of the sons of men, Ecclesiastes 3:10].

The word, translated "world" in the text, & "eternity" in this note, is used seven times in Ecclesiastes.

The interpretation "eternity," is conceived in the sense of a long indefinite period of time, in accordance with the use of the word throughout this bookT.

Gof the OldTestament.GOD has placed in the inborn constitution of man the capability of conceiving of eternity, the struggle to apprehend the everlasting, the lon ging

after an eternallife. With the other meaning "the world," i. e., the material world, or universe, in which we dwell, the context is explained as referring either to the knowledge of the objects with which this world is filled, or to the love of the pleasures of the world.

This meaning seems to be less in harmony with the context than the other: but the principal objection to it is that it assigns to the word in the original a sense which, although found in rabbinical Hebrew, it never bears in the language of the OT. So .. find - i. e., Without enabling man to find. Compare Ecclesiastes 7:13; Ecclesiastes 8:17.

John Gill, English Baptist & Calvinist [1697-1771] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

HE hath made every thing beautiful in HIS time,.... That is, GOD has made everything; as all things in creation are made by him, for HIS pleasure & glory, & all well & wisely, there is a beauty in them all: so all things in providence; HE upholds all things; HE governs & orders all things according to the counsel of HIS will; some things are done immediately by him, others by instruments, & some are only permitted by him; some HE does HIMSELF, some HE wills to be done by others, & some HE suffers to be done; but in all there is a beauty & harmony; & all are ordered, disposed, & overruled, to answer the wisest & greatest purposes; everything is done in the time in which HE wills it shall; be done, & done in the time most fit & suitable for it to be done; all things before mentioned, for which there is a time, & all others: all natural things are beautiful in their season; things in summer, winter, spring, & autumn; frost & snow in winter, & heat in summer; darkness & dews in the night, & light & brightness in the day; & so in ten thousand other things: all afflictive dispensations of Providence; times of plucking up & breaking down of weeping & mourning, of losing & casting away are all necessary, & seasonable & beautiful, in their issue & consequences: prosperity & adversity, in their turns, make a beautiful checker work, & work together for good; are like Joseph's coat, of many colours, which was an emblem of those various providences which attended that good man; & were extremely beautiful, as are all the providences of GOD to men: & all HIS judgments will be, when made manifest; when HE shall have performed HIS whole work, & the mystery of GOD in providence will be finished; which is like a piece of tapestry; when only viewed in parts no beauty appears in it, scarce any thing to be made of it but when all is put together, it is most beautiful & harmonious.

The words may be rendered, "the beautiful One hath made all things in HIS time" [m]; the Messiah; who, as a divine Person, is the brightness of HIS FATHER's glory; as man, is fairer than the sons, of Adam; as Mediator, is full of grace & truth; is white & ruddy, altogether lovely, exceeding precious to HIS people: this fair & lovely One has made all things in creation; works with HIS FATHER in the affairs of providence; & has done all things well in grace & redemption, John 1:2; also HE hath set the world in their heart; so that no man can find out the work that GOD maketh from the beginning to the end; not a sinful love of the world, & the things of it; not a criminal desire after them, & a carking care for them, whereby persons have no heart & inclination, time & leisure, to search into & find out the works of GOD; for though all this is in the heart of the sons of men, yet, not placed, there by the LORD: nor an opinion of living for ever; of a long time in this world, the word for "world" having the signification of perpetuity in it; so that they regard not, the work of the LORD, nor the operations of His hands, tomorrow being with them as this day, & much more abundant; but this sense meets with the same difficulty asthe former.Rather the meaning is, that GOD hath set before the minds of men, & in them, the whole world of creatures, the whole book of nature, in which they may see & read much of the wisdom power, & goodness of GOD in HIS works; & to some He gives an inclination & desire hereunto; but yet the subject before them is so copious, there is such a world of matter presented to them, & their capacity so small, & life so short, that they cannot all their days find out the works of GOD, either of creation or providence, to perfection; or find out what GOD works, from the beginning of the world to the end of it; for, of what HE has wrought, but a small portion is known by them, & they know less still what shall be done hereafter: some of GOD's works of providence are set on foot & but begun in the life of some men; they do

Matthew Poole, English Nonconformist [1624 - 1679] | | Ecclesiastes 3:11

HE hath made every thing beautiful in HIS time: this seems to be added as an apology for GOD’s providence, notwithstanding all the contrary events & confusions which are in the world. HE [ie GOD, expressed in the last clause of theverse] hath made [or doth make or do, by HIS providence in the government of the world] every thing [which HE doth either immediately, or by the ministry of men or other creatures, for GOD worketh in & with all HIS creatures in all their actions, as is agreed by divines & philosophers] beautiful [decently & conveniently, so that, all things considered, it could not have been done better] in His time; in the time which HE had appointed, or which HE saw most proper & fit for it; or, in its time or season, when it was most fit to be done.

Many events seem to men’s shallow & perverse judgments, at least for a time, to be very irregular & unbecoming, as when wicked men prosper in their impious & unrighteous enterprises, & good men are sorely oppressed & afflicted, & that for righteousness’ sake; but when men shall come thoroughly to understand GOD’s works, & the whole frame & contexture of them, & to see the end of them, they will then say that all things were done most wisely & most seasonably; whereof we have eminent instances in Joseph, & David, & Mordecai, & the Jews of HIS time.

HE hath set the world in their heart, ie in the hearts of men, as the following words show, where man is expressed. The sense is either, 1].

Although all GOD’s works are beautiful, yet men do not discern the beauty of them, because the world is in their hearts; their minds are so busied & distracted with the thoughts, & cares, & love, & business of this world, that they have neither leisure nor heart seriously to studyGOD’s works.But this inordinate love of the present world comes from man’s own corruption, & not from GOD; & therefore it seems harsh to impute it to GOD, & improbable that Solomon would have phrased it thus, that GOD hath set or put the world ie worldly lusts, in men’s hearts.Or,

2]. As GOD’s works are beautiful in themselves, so men are capable of discerning the beauty of them, because GOD hath set the world in men’s hearts; HE hath exposed the world, & all HIS dispensations in the world, unto the view of men’s minds; both because HE hath wrought HIS works so evidently & publicly, that men might easily observe them; & because HE hath given men reason whereby they may discover the wisdom & beauty of all GOD’s works, if they diligently apply themselves to the study of them.

So that no man can find out the work that GOD maketh from the beginning to the end: so this is another reason why men do not discern the beauty of GOD’s works, because they do not see the whole frame or course of the from the beginning to the end, but only some small parcels or fragments of them; the eminent works of GOD being oft begun in one age, & finished in another.Or, yet so that, &c. or, except that [as this phrase properly signifies, & is elsewhere used] no man can find out, &c.

Thus it is an exception to the next foregoing clause, & the sense is, It is true GOD hath put the world into men’s hearts, or made them capable of observing all events & dispensations of GOD in the world; but this is to be understood with a limitation, because there are some more mysterious works of GOD which no man can fully understand, because HE cannot search them out through or from the beginning to the end.

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