Ecclesiastes 11:5 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Just as the mystery of the breath of life and the forming of a child in the womb lies beyond us, so do the wider works of God, who makes all things.
What Does Ecclesiastes 11:5 Mean?
The Preacher reaches for two of life's deepest mysteries: the movement of the spirit, or breath, and the hidden growth of bones in the womb. Neither can be fully traced, yet both are unmistakably real and good.
His conclusion is reverent humility. If we cannot map the beginnings of a single life, we should not expect to chart all the works of the Maker of everything. This is not despair but worship: the same God who quietly knits a child together is at work in ways past our finding out, and we can trust the wisdom we cannot yet see.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 in the Original Language
ruach (רוּחַ), 'spirit' -- can mean breath, wind, or the life-spirit, all stirring beyond human sight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 11:5
What does Ecclesiastes 11:5 mean?
Just as the mystery of the breath of life and the forming of a child in the womb lies beyond us, so do the wider works of God, who makes all things.