
Text -- Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
All God's counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable.

Wesley: Ecc 3:14 - -- Men can neither do any thing against God's counsel and providence, nor hinder any work or act of it.
Men can neither do any thing against God's counsel and providence, nor hinder any work or act of it.

Wesley: Ecc 3:14 - -- That by the consideration of his power in the disposal of all persons and things, men should learn to trust in him, to submit to him, to fear to offen...
That by the consideration of his power in the disposal of all persons and things, men should learn to trust in him, to submit to him, to fear to offend him, and more carefully study to please him.

JFB: Ecc 3:14 - -- Opposed to man's "crooked and wanting" works (Ecc 1:15; Ecc 7:13). The event of man's labors depends wholly on God's immutable purpose. Man's part, th...
Opposed to man's "crooked and wanting" works (Ecc 1:15; Ecc 7:13). The event of man's labors depends wholly on God's immutable purpose. Man's part, therefore, is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ecc 3:12-13), not setting aside God's order, but observing deep reverence towards God; for the mysteriousness and unchangeableness of God's purposes are designed to lead "man to fear before Him." Man knows not the event of each act: otherwise he would think himself independent of God.
Clarke: Ecc 3:14 - -- I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever - לעולם leolam , for eternity; in reference to that grand consummation of men and thing...
I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever -

Clarke: Ecc 3:14 - -- Nothing can be put to it - No new order of beings, whether animate or inanimate, can be produced. God will not create more; man cannot add
Nothing can be put to it - No new order of beings, whether animate or inanimate, can be produced. God will not create more; man cannot add

Clarke: Ecc 3:14 - -- Nor any thing taken from it - Nothing can be annihilated; no power but that which can create can destroy. And whatever he has done, he intended to b...
Nor any thing taken from it - Nothing can be annihilated; no power but that which can create can destroy. And whatever he has done, he intended to be a means of impressing a just sense of his being, providence, mercy, and judgments, upon the souls of men. A proper consideration of God’ s works has a tendency to make man a religious creature; that is, to impress his mind with a sense of the existence of the Supreme Being, and the reverence that is due to him. In this sense the fear of God is frequently taken in Scripture. The Hebrew of this clause is strongly emphatic:
"And the gods he hath done, that they might fear from before his faces."Even the doctrine of the eternal Trinity in Unity may be collected from numberless appearances in nature. A consideration of the herb trefoil is said to have been the means of fully convincing the learned Erasmus of the truth of the assertion, These Three are One: and yet three distinct. He saw the same root, the same fibres, the same pulpy substance, the same membraneous covering, the same color, the same taste, the same smell, in every part; and yet the three leaves distinct: but each and all a continuation of the stem, and proceeding from the same root. Such a fact as this may at least illustrate the doctrine. An intelligent shepherd, whom he met upon the mountains, is said to have exhibited the herb, and the illustration while discoursing on certain difficulties in the Christian faith. When a child, I heard a learned man relate this fact.
Defender -> Ecc 3:14
Defender: Ecc 3:14 - -- In addition to emphasizing the immutability of God and His works, this passage anticipates the great scientific principle of conservation (conservatio...
In addition to emphasizing the immutability of God and His works, this passage anticipates the great scientific principle of conservation (conservation of energy, mass, momentum, charge, etc.). Nothing is now being either created or annihilated. An entity may be changed in character and even deteriorate in quality, but it must be conserved in quantity."
TSK -> Ecc 3:14
TSK: Ecc 3:14 - -- whatsoever : Psa 33:11, Psa 119:90, Psa 119:91; Isa 46:10; Dan 4:34, Dan 4:35; Act 2:23, Act 4:28; Rom 11:36; Eph 3:11; Tit 1:2; Jam 1:17
nothing : Ps...
whatsoever : Psa 33:11, Psa 119:90, Psa 119:91; Isa 46:10; Dan 4:34, Dan 4:35; Act 2:23, Act 4:28; Rom 11:36; Eph 3:11; Tit 1:2; Jam 1:17
nothing : Psa 76:10; Pro 19:21, Pro 21:30, Pro 30:6; Isa 10:12-15; Dan 8:8, Dan 11:2-4; Joh 19:10, Joh 19:11, Joh 19:28-37; Act 5:39

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Ecc 3:14
Barnes: Ecc 3:14 - -- The last clause of this verse goes beyond a declaration of the fact of God’ s government of the world Ecc 2:26 by adding the moral effect which...
Poole -> Ecc 3:14
Poole: Ecc 3:14 - -- Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever all God’ s counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable, and his providence works effectually, so...
Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever all God’ s counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable, and his providence works effectually, so as men cannot resist or hinder it.
Nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it men can neither do any thing besides or against God’ s counsel and providence, nor hinder any work or act of it.
That men should fear before him not that men should make this an occasion of despair, or idleness, or dissoluteness, as some abuse this doctrine, but that, by the consideration of his sovereign and irresistible power in the disposal of all persons and things as pleaseth him, men should learn to trust in him, to submit to him, to fear to offend or rebel against him, and more carefully and industriously to study to please him.
Haydock -> Ecc 3:14
Haydock: Ecc 3:14 - -- Feared. The order of the seasons, &c., teaches men to adore Providence. (St. Jerome) ---
He has arranged every thing, how mutable soever. (St. Au...
Feared. The order of the seasons, &c., teaches men to adore Providence. (St. Jerome) ---
He has arranged every thing, how mutable soever. (St. Augustine, Confessions i. 6.)
Gill -> Ecc 3:14
Gill: Ecc 3:14 - -- I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever,.... Which some, as Jarchi, understand of the works of creation, the heavens and the earth, whi...
I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever,.... Which some, as Jarchi, understand of the works of creation, the heavens and the earth, which are however of long standing and duration; and though they shall be dissolved and perish, as to their form and quality, yet not as to the substance of them: the earth particularly is said to abide for ever, Ecc 1:4; the sun and moon, and stars, keep their course or station; and the several seasons of the year have their constant revolution, and shall as long as the earth endures; see Gen 8:22; the several kinds of creatures God has made, in the earth, air, and sea, though the individuals die, their species remain; and man, the chief of creatures, though he dies, shall live again, and live for ever; so the Arabic version,
"I have learned that all the creatures which God hath made shall perpetually remain in the same order and condition:''
though Abarbinel o interprets this of the continuance of the world for a certain time, and then of the destruction of it; which he thinks is supported by Ecc 3:15, and which is to be understood of the creation of one world after another; and that which is past he explains of the world that is destroyed. But rather this is to be understood of the decrees of God, which are his works "ad intra"; the thoughts of his heart, that are to all generations; the counsel of his will, which always stands, and is performed; his mind, which is one, the same always, and invariable, and which he never changes; his pleasure he always does; his purposes and appointments, which are always accomplished, never frustrated and made void: for he is all wise in forming them, all knowing, and sees the end from the beginning, so that nothing unforeseen can turn up to hinder the execution of them; he is unchangeable, and never alters his will; and all powerful, able to effect his great designs; and faithful and true, cannot deny himself, nor ever lie nor repent. To this sense is the Targum,
"I know, by a spirit of prophecy, that all which the Lord does in the world, whether good or evil, after it is decreed from his mouth, it shall be for ever.''
This holds good of all his works, and acts of grace; election of persons to eternal life stands firm, not on the foot of works, but of grace, and has its certain effect; it can never be made void, nor be surer than it is; it will ever take place, and continue in its fruit and consequences: the covenant of grace, as it is made from everlasting, continues to everlasting; its promises never, fail, its blessings are the sure mercies of David: redemption by Christ is eternal; such as are redeemed from sin, Satan, and the law, are ever so, and shall never be brought into bondage to either again: the work of grace upon the heart being begun, shall be performed and perfected; the graces wrought in the soul, as faith, hope, and love, ever remain; the blessings of grace bestowed, as pardon, justification, adoption, and salvation, are never reversed, but ever continue; such as are regenerated, pardoned, justified, adopted, and saved, shall be ever so; and the work of God, as it is durable, so perfect;
nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; the works of nature have been finished and perfected from the foundation of the world; the decrees of God are a complete system of his will, according to which he does all things invariably, in providence and grace; the covenant of grace is ordered in all things, and nothing wanting in it; the work of redemption is completely done by Christ, who is a rock, and his work is perfect; and the work of grace on the heart, though at present imperfect, shall be perfected; nor is it in the power of men to add anything to it, nor take anything from it;
and God doth it, that men should fear before him; his works of creation being done in so much wisdom, and giving such a display of his power and goodness, command art awe of him in his creatures, Psa 33:6; his works of providence, being all according to his wise purposes and decrees, should be patiently and quietly submitted to; and men should be still, and know that he is God, and humble themselves under his mighty hand: his decrees, respecting the present or future state of men, do not lead to despair, nor to a neglect of means, nor to a dissolute life, but tend to promote the fear of God and true holiness, which they are the source of; and the blessings of grace have a kind influence on the same; particularly the blessing of pardoning grace, which is with God, that he may be feared, Psa 130:4; and one principal part of the work of grace on the heart is the fear of God; and nothing more strongly engages to the whole worship of God, which is often meant by the fear of him, than his grace vouchsafed to men; see Heb 12:28. The Targum refers this to the vengeance of God in the world: and Jarchi, to the unusual phenomena in it; as the flood, the sun's standing still and going backward, and the like.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Ecc 3:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Ecc 3:1-22 - --1 By the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail.11 There is an excellency in God's works.16 But as for man, God shall judge his w...
MHCC -> Ecc 3:11-15
MHCC: Ecc 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 and cares of worldly th...
Matthew Henry -> Ecc 3:11-15
Matthew Henry: Ecc 3:11-15 - -- We have seen what changes there are in the world, and must not expect to find the world more sure to us than it has been to others. Now here Solomon...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Ecc 3:14
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 3:14 - --
"Thus I discerned it then, that all that God will do exists for ever; nothing is to be added to it, and nothing taken from it: God has thus directed...
Constable -> Ecc 2:18--6:10; Ecc 3:1--4:4
Constable: Ecc 2:18--6:10 - --B. General Observations 2:18-6:9
Thus far Solomon had reflected on the futility of all human endeavor ge...
