SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:18
Dije en mi corazón, en orden a la condición de los hijos de los hombres, que Dios los puede manifestar, y es para ver que ellos son bestias los unos a los otros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:18
Verse 18. That they might see that they themselves are beasts. - The author of Choheleth has given a correct view of this difficult verse, by a proper translation: "I said in my heart, reflecting on the state of the sons of men, O that God would enlighten them, and make them see that even they themselves are like beasts." These words are to be referred to those in authority who abused their power; particularly to the corrupt magistrates mentioned above.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men , etc.] He thought of the condition of the children of men, their sinful and polluted state; he weighed and considered in his mind their actions, conversation, and course of life; and was concerned how it would go with them at the day of judgment on account of the same. Some render it, “I said in mine heart after the speech of the children of men” f91 ; speaking in their language, and representing the atheist and the epicure, as some think the wise man does in the following verses; though he rather speaks his own real sentiments concerning men, as they are in their present state, and as they will appear in the day of judgment; that God might manifest them ; or “separate them” f92 ; as the chaff from the wheat, and as goats from the sheep; as will be done at the day of judgment, ( Matthew 3:10 25:30,33); or “that they might clear God” f93 ; as they will, when he shall judge and condemn them; and that they might see that they themselves are beasts ; as they are through the fall, and the corruption of nature, being born like the wild ass’s colt, stupid, senseless, and without understanding of spiritual things; nay, more brutish than the beasts themselves, than the horse and the mule that have no understanding, ( Psalm 32:9); “mulo inscitior”, as is Plautus’s f94 phrase; (see Psalm 49:12,20 Job 11:12) ( Isaiah 1:3 Jeremiah 8:7); this is now made manifest to the people of God by the word and Spirit; is seen, known, and acknowledged by them, ( Psalm 73:21 Proverbs 30:2); and the wicked themselves will see, know, and own what beasts they are and have been, at the day of judgment; how they have lived and died like beasts; how like brute beasts they have corrupted themselves in things they knew naturally; and that as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, spoke evil of things they understood not, and perished in their own corruption, ( Jude 1:10) ( 2 Peter 2:12); and that they have been beasts to themselves, as Jarchi renders and interprets it; made beasts of themselves by their brutish gratifications; have been cruel to themselves, ruining and destroying their own souls; or among themselves, and to one another, “homo lupus homini”; hence wicked men are compared to lions, foxes, evening wolves, vipers, and the like. So Mr. Broughton renders it, “how they are beasts, they to themselves.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
The changes of human affairs. (Eccl. 3:1-10) The Divine counsel unchangeable. (Eccl. 3:11-15) The vanity of worldly power. (Eccl 3:16-22) Eccl. 3:1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, mus end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is ou duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let u seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none wer sent into the world to be idle.
Eccl. 3:11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thought and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our busines to do good in this life, which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time Satisfaction with Divine Providence, is having faith that all thing work together for good to them that love him. God doeth all, that me should fear before him. The world, as it has been, is, and will be There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it taken us but such as is common to men.
Eccl. 3:16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set tha aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is anothe Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this worl as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts without being free, as they are, from present vexations and a futur account. Both return to the dust from whence they were taken. What little reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodil accomplishments! But as none can fully comprehend, so few conside properly, the difference between the rational soul of man, and the spirit or life of the beast. The spirit of man goes upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state of happiness of misery. It is as certain that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Surely their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes is, that they may die like beasts. Le our inquiry be, how an eternity of existence may be to us an eternit of enjoyment? To answer this, is the grand design of revelation. Jesu is revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אמרתי 559 אני 589 בלבי 3820 על 5921 דברת 1700 בני 1121 האדם 120 לברם 1305 האלהים 430 ולראות 7200 שׁהם 1992 בהמה 929 המה 1992 להם׃ 1992
