Ecclesiastes 8:7

“For he knoweth not that which shall be, etc.] Or that “it shall be”f198; that he ever shall have the opportunity again he has lost, nor what is to come hereafter; what shall be on the morrow, or what shall befall him in the remaining part of his days; what troubles and sorrows he shall meet with, or what will be the case and circumstances of his family after his death; for who can tell him when it shall be? or “how it shall be”f199? how it will be with him or his; no one that pretends to judicial astrology, or to the art of divination, or any such devices, can tell him what is to come; future things are only certainly known by God; none but he can tell what will certainly come to pass; (see…”

“he--the sinner, by neglecting times (for example, "the accepted time, and the day of salvation, Co2 6:2), is taken by surprise by the judgment (Ecc 3:22; Ecc 6:12; Ecc 9:12). The godly wise observe the due times of things (Ecc 3:1), and so, looking for the judgment, are not taken by surprise, though not knowing the precise "when" (Th1 5:2-4); they "know the time" to all saving purposes (Rom 13:11).”

“When - Or, as in the margin. For the meaning of this verse, compare marginal references. return to 'Top of Page'”

“For - Men are generally ignorant of future events, and therefore their minds are disquieted. Ecclesiastes 8:8”

“8:7-8 Since our strength, goodness, and wisdom cannot forestall calamity, turning to wickedness would certainly be futile.”

“he knoweth: Ecc 6:12, Ecc 9:12, Ecc 10:14; Pro 24:22, Pro 29:1; Mat 24:44, Mat 24:50, Mat 25:6-13; Th1 5:1-3 when: or, how Ecclesiastes 8:8”

“Ecc 8:7 and Ecc 8:8 thus continue the For and For: "For he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him who it will be? There is no man who has power over the wind, to restrain the wind; and no one has authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the war; and wickedness does not save its possessor." The actor has the sin upon himself, and bears it; if it reaches the terminus of full measure, it suddenly overwhelms him in punishment, and the too great burden oppresses its bearer (Hitzig, under Isa 24:20). This עת ומשׁ comes unforeseen, for he (the man who heaps up sins) knoweth not id quod fiet; it arrives unforeseen, for quomodo fiet, who can show it to him? Thus,…”