Ecclesiastes 8:7 kjv — For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

King James Version

"For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?"

— Ecclesiastes 8:7, King James Version

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Ecclesiastes 8:7 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 8 — Context

4

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

5

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

6

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

7

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

8

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

9

All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

10

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 8:7 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 8:7 say?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 in the King James Version reads: “For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?”
Where is Ecclesiastes 8:7 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 8, verse 7.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 8:7.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 8:7 in?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 8:7?
Ecclesiastes 8:7 reads (KJV): “For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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