Ecclesiastes – Chapter 6

Old Testament11 Verses

Chapter Summary

"There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:" — so begins Ecclesiastes 6. Across its 11 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and God feeding His people. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:

2A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.

3If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he.

4For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten.

5He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil:

6Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good things: do not all make haste to one place?

7All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled.

8What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

9Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit.

10He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself.

11There are many words that have much vanity in disputing.

Important Verses in Ecclesiastes 6

There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:

Ecclesiastes 6:1

For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 6:4

All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled.

Ecclesiastes 6:7

There are many words that have much vanity in disputing.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Ecclesiastes was written with those tempted to seek lasting meaning in passing things in view. Chapter 6 of 12 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a wisdom instruction on how to live before God in ordinary circumstances with 11 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:" It concludes: "There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. " Read against its original backdrop, Ecclesiastes examines life 'under the sun'—wealth, pleasure, work, knowledge—and finds all of it fleeting: 'vanity of vanities. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Ecclesiastes around Probably 3rd century BC.

Who Wrote It

'Qoheleth' (the Preacher), traditionally associated with Solomon

When It Was Written

Probably 3rd century BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense presents maxims, observations, or arguments meant to form character and discernment. A pivotal line is verse 1: "There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:" The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of the meaning of life and human limitations. the Church reads this book in light of eternal life in Christ (CIC 1007). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 791).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that the meaning of life and human limitations is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing forgiveness and reconciliation.

May your reading of Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how Apart from God, all is vanity applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 about?

Ecclesiastes 6 contains 11 verses. It opens with "There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:" and closes with "There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. ". The book as a whole is wisdom literature and reflection.

What is a key verse in Ecclesiastes 6?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Ecclesiastes and when?

'Qoheleth' (the Preacher), traditionally associated with Solomon. Probably 3rd century BC.

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