Study Series – Semper Reformanda

Ecclesiastes 7:1 | Word Study

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV)

Seow interprets this verse as ‘a good reputation is better than the finest luxuries.’ The word for ‘name,’ or ‘fame’ refers to not just current reputation, but with posthumous name as well. (234-235) Weirdly, Provan claims this reputation as an incentive of embracing wisdom over folly. (159) This comment seems weird because it invokes the question – is there acquirable profit under the sun? But perhaps, the non or at least, the least controversial way we could read this verse could be to emphasize on the finality of things: i.e., death. If all our labour is nullified by death, then what is the point of living? Bartholomew responds, ‘if all is enigmatic, then the day of one’s death is better than being born.’ (210) I suppose, the emphasis is not on death per se, but on the finality of things; i.e., that the living should live weighing on the fact that everything ends. It seems the recognition of death’s significance is what Qoheleth is counting as a part of wisdom – not just a direct incentive of it.

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic

Provan, I. (2001). Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs: The New Application Commentary, Zondervan

Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press

Ecclesiastes 6:12 | Word Study

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:12 (KJV)

‘… all of the days of his vain life,’ refers to the ‘accusative of time. (Seow, 233) ‘… spendeth as a shadow’ refers to human life being ephemeral, (234) i.e., human life is short and thereby ignorant. The implication is that man is in no condition to judge what is good for himself, in fact, he does not even know what is going to happen to him after death. (Bartholomew, 204)

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic

Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press

Ecclesiastes 6:11 | Word Study

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? Ecclesiastes 6:11 (KJV)

‘More words… more vanity,’ highlights the transient nature of things. Vanity or ‘enigma’ here is translated as ‘fleeting.’ (Bartholomew, 204) Qoheleth seems to state that the vanity of labouring under the sun cannot be resolved by investing more labour into it. As Henry writes, “what residuum has he, what overplus, what real advantage, when he comes to balance his account?” Or in other words, what remains after much labour is only vanity.

Reference:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 6:11-12