KJV King James Version
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 11:3
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
WEB World English Bible
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
ASV American Standard Version
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty themselves; And if a tree doth fall in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falleth, there it is.
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 11
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
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.
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
אִם־H518 · imifיִמָּלְא֨וּH4390 · ma.leto fillהֶעָבִ֥יםH5645 · avcloudגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙H1653 · ge.shemrainעַל־H5921 · aluponהָאָ֣רֶץH776 · e.retsland: country/planetיָרִ֔יקוּH7324 · ruqto emptyוְאִם־H518 · imifיִפּ֥וֹלH5307 · na.phalto fall: fallעֵ֛ץH6086 · etstree: woodבַּדָּר֖וֹםH1864 · da.romsouthוְאִ֣םH518 · imifבַּצָּפ֑וֹןH6828 · tsa.phonnorthמְק֛וֹםH4725 · ma.qomplaceשֶׁיִּפּ֥וֹלH5307 · na.phalto fall: fallהָעֵ֖ץH6086 · etstree: woodשָׁ֥םH8033 · shamthereיְהֽוּא׃H1933 · ha.vato fall
Cross-references
1 John 3:17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?Psalm 65:9-13Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.Isaiah 55:10-11For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:Luke 13:7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?1 Kings 18:45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.Luke 16:22-26And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;Matthew 3:10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Ecclesiastes 11:3
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:3
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →