Ecclesiastes 3:14

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Qohelet addresses a general audience, closing his argument that satisfaction in labor is God's gift (3:13) and opening his point that God's work is complete and permanent (3:15).

The words — יָדַ֗עְתִּי (yada'ti, "I know") is a first-person epistemic claim, not a general observation; כָּל (kol, "all") marks the scope as total, leaving no exception.

The thread — The permanence of God's counsel appears in Psalms 33:11 ("stands forever") and the completeness of His work in Romans 11:36 ("from Him and through Him and to Him are all things").

Why it lands — The verse names the intended response: fear of God, not comfort in a finished product. It asks the reader to stop trying to add to or subtract from what God has done.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know כִּ֠יkithat כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherthat יַעֲשֶׂ֤הya.'a.Sehhe does הָאֱלֹהִים֙ha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God ה֚וּאhu'it יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit will be לְעוֹלָ֔םle./'o.Lamfor/ ever עָלָיו֙'a.La/vto/ it אֵ֣ין'einnot לְהוֹסִ֔יףle./ho.Sifto/ add וּמִמֶּ֖נּוּu./mi.Me./nuand/ from/ it אֵ֣ין'einnot לִגְרֹ֑עַli/g.Ro.a'to/ take away וְהָאֱלֹהִ֣יםve./ha./'E.lo.Himand/ <the>/ God עָשָׂ֔ה'a.Sahhe has acted שֶׁיִּֽרְא֖וּshei./yir.'Uthat/ people will fear מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃mi./le./fa.Na/vfrom/ to/ before/ him

King James Version

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Cross-references

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
Psalms 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Psalms 64:9 Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.
Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
Psalms 119:90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.