Ecclesiastes 6:12
NASB Lexicon
NASB ©HebrewStrong'sOrigin
For whoמִֽי־
(mi-)
4310: who?a prim. pronoun
knowsיֹודֵעַ֩
(yo·v·de·a')
3045: to knowa prim. root
whatמַה־
(mah-)
4100: what? how? anythinga prim. interrogative and indefinite particle
is goodטֹּ֨וב
(to·vv)
2896a: pleasant, agreeable, goodfrom tob
for a manלָֽאָדָ֜ם
(la·'a·dam)
120: man, mankindfrom an unused word
during [his] lifetime, 
 
2425b: lifefrom chayah
[during] the fewמִסְפַּ֛ר
(mis·par)
4557: number, tallyfrom the same as sepher
yearsיְמֵי־
(ye·mei-)
3117: daya prim. root
of his futileהֶבְלֹ֖ו
(hev·lov)
1892: vapor, breatha prim. root
life? 
 
2425b: lifefrom chayah
He will spendוְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם
(ve·ya·'a·sem)
6213a: do, makea prim. root
them like a shadow.כַּצֵּ֑ל
(ka·tzel;)
6738: a shadowfrom tsalal
For whoמִֽי־
(mi-)
4310: who?a prim. pronoun
can tellיַגִּ֣יד
(yag·gid)
5046: to be conspicuousa prim. root
a manלָֽאָדָ֔ם
(la·'a·dam,)
120: man, mankindfrom an unused word
whatמַה־
(mah-)
4100: what? how? anythinga prim. interrogative and indefinite particle
will be afterאַחֲרָ֖יו
(a·cha·rav)
310: the hind or following partfrom achar
him underתַּ֥חַת
(ta·chat)
8478: underneath, below, instead ofa prim. root
the sun?הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
(ha·sha·mesh.)
8121: sunfrom an unused word


















KJV Lexicon
For who knoweth
yada`  (yaw-dah')
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially
what is good
towb  (tobe)
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun
for man
'adam  (aw-dawm')
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) -- another, + hypocrite, + common sort, low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
in this life
chay  (khah'-ee)
age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
all
micpar  (mis-pawr')
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
the days
yowm  (yome)
a day (as the warm hours),
of his vain
hebel  (heh'bel)
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- altogether, vain, vanity.
life
chay  (khah'-ee)
age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
which he spendeth
`asah  (aw-saw')
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
as a shadow
tsel  (tsale)
shade, whether literal or figurative -- defence, shade(-ow).
for who can tell
nagad  (naw-gad')
to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
a man
'adam  (aw-dawm')
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) -- another, + hypocrite, + common sort, low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
what shall be after
'achar  (akh-ar')
the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
him under the sun
shemesh  (sheh'-mesh)
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a notched battlement -- + east side(-ward), sun (rising), + west(-ward), window.
Parallel Verses
New American Standard Bible
For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

King James Bible
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?

International Standard Version
Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

NET Bible
For no one knows what is best for a person during his life--during the few days of his fleeting life--for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?

King James 2000 Bible
For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
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Ecclesiastes 6:12
Ecclesiastes 6:12 NIV
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Ecclesiastes 6:12 ESV
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Ecclesiastes 6:12 KJV

Ecclesiastes 6:11
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