Ecclesiastes 11:5
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.
KJV
Quomodo ignoras quæ sit via spiritus, et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre prægnantis, sic nescis opera Dei, qui fabricator est omnium.
Vulgate
ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν γινώσκων τίς ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ πνεύματος ὡς ὀστᾶ ἐν γαστρὶ κυοφορούσης, οὕτως οὐ γνώσῃ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ὅσα ποιήσει τὰ σύμπαντα.
LXX
As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
ASV
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽינְ/ךָ֤ יוֹדֵ֨עַ֙ מַה דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָ/ר֔וּחַ כַּ/עֲצָמִ֖ים בְּ/בֶ֣טֶן הַ/מְּלֵאָ֑ה כָּ֗כָה לֹ֤א תֵדַע֙ אֶת מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָֽ/אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת הַ/כֹּֽל
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
16 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Doctrines that cite this verse
Historic Christian voices
4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
The way this work of God is carried out cannot be fully grasped by believers in this life. But meanwhile they rest content with knowing and experiencing that by this grace of God they do believe with the heart and love their Savior.
Cross-references
- Eccl 7:24 — That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
- Eccl 8:17 — Then 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 farther; though a wise man
- Eccl 8:17 — Then 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 farther; though a wise man
- Isa 40:28 — 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.
- Job 5:9 — Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
- Job 26:5 — Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
- Job 36:24 — Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
- Job 37:23 — Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
- Job 38:4 — Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
- John 3:8 — The 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.
- Mark 4:27 — And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
- Ps 40:5 — Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are
- Ps 92:5 — O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
- Ps 104:24 — O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
- Ps 139:13 — For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
- Ps 139:15 — My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
- Rom 11:33 — O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!