Ecclesiastes 11 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Chapter 11
Hebrew source [BHS11] • Greek source [LXX11]
Sowing, uncertainty and youth (11:1–10)
Verse 11:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:1] Send your bread upon the surface of the waters, for after many days you will find it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:1] Send your bread upon the surface of the water, for after many days you will find it.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The image remains open to generosity or enterprise; neither application replaces the verse.
Verse 11:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:2] Give a share to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will occur upon the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:2] Give a share to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will occur upon the earth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The increasing numerical expression is preserved without inserting a list of recipients or investments.
Verse 11:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:3] If the clouds are full of rain, they empty it upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will be.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:3] If the clouds are full of rain, they pour it upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will be.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The two natural images agree.
Verse 11:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:4] Whoever watches the wind will not sow, and whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:4] Whoever watches the wind will not sow, and whoever looks at the clouds will not reap,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Greek anemos explicitly means wind; it is distinguished from pneuma in the next verse.
Verse 11:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:5] As you do not know the way of the spirit, or how the bones form in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:5] among which no one knows the way of the spirit. As with bones in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you will not know God's works, all that He will make.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's compressed relation between spirit and bones permits more than one construal; or how form is supplied to present coordinated unknowns. Greek begins with a relative connection to the preceding context and retains a separate bone comparison. Spirit may also mean wind or breath.
Verse 11:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:6] In the morning sow your seed, and toward evening do not let your hand rest, for you do not know which will succeed, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:6] In the morning sow your seed, and toward evening do not let your hand rest, for you do not know which will proceed, this or that, or whether both together will be good.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek stoicheo, proceed in order, is kept slightly distinct from Hebrew succeed.
Verse 11:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:7] Light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:7] Light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The affirmation of embodied enjoyment remains explicit.
Verse 11:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:8] For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vapor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:8] For even if a person lives many years, he will rejoice in them all and remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is futility.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew is read exhortatively; Greek uses future verbs. The darkness is not expanded into a detailed description of the afterlife.
Verse 11:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:9] Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart make you glad in the days of your early life. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:9] Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart make you glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, and know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both combine enjoyment with accountability; neither half is removed to resolve the tension.
Verse 11:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[11:10] Remove vexation from your heart and put away trouble from your flesh, for youth and life's dawn are vapor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[11:10] Remove anger from your heart and put away evil from your flesh, for youth and lack of understanding are futility.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew shaharut is provisionally life's dawn, with black-haired youth also possible. Greek explicitly has lack of understanding rather than another period of life.