Parallel Verses

Amplified

Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he.

New American Standard Bible

Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

King James Version

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Holman Bible

Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is known what man is. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he.

International Standard Version

Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.

A Conservative Version

Whatever has been, the name of it was given long ago, and it is know what man is. Neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

American Standard Version

Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Bible in Basic English

That which is, has been named before, and of what man is there is knowledge. He has no power against one stronger than he.

Darby Translation

That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

Julia Smith Translation

What was, its name was called already, and it was known that it is man: and he shall not be able to contend with the powerful above him.

King James 2000

Whatever has been is named already, and it is known that this is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Whatever is--it was already determined, {what will be--it has already been decided}. As for man, he cannot argue against what is more powerful than him.

Modern King James verseion

That which has been is named already, and it is known that he is man. And he is not able to contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

NET Bible

Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

New Heart English Bible

Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

The Emphasized Bible

Whatsoever one may be, long ago, was he called by his name, and it is known that it is - Son of Earth, - he cannot, therefore, contend with one stronger than he.

Webster

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

World English Bible

Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

Youngs Literal Translation

What is that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it is man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
כּבר 
K@bar 
Usage: 9

that it is man
אדם 
'adam 
Usage: 541

יכול יכל 
Yakol 
Usage: 194

he contend
דּוּן דּין 
Diyn 
Usage: 24

with him that is mightier
תּקּיף 
Taqqiyph 
Usage: 1

References

Hastings

Context Readings

It Is Futile For Humans To Complain About God's Irresistible Will

9 What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires. This too is futility and chasing after the wind. 10 Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he. 11 For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man?


Cross References

Job 9:32


“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him,
That we may go to court and judgment together.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself].

Job 40:2


“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

Genesis 3:9

But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:17-19

Then to Adam the Lord God said, “Because you have listened [attentively] to the voice of your wife, and have eaten [fruit] from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’;

The ground is [now] under a curse because of you;
In sorrow and toil you shall eat [the fruit] of it
All the days of your life.

Job 9:3-4


“If one should want to contend or dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Job 14:1-4

“Man, who is born of a woman,
Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

Job 33:13


“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

Psalm 39:6


“Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.

Psalm 82:6-7


I said, “You are gods;
Indeed, all of you are sons of the Most High.

Psalm 103:15


As for man, his days are like grass;
Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11


That which has been is that which will be [again],
And that which has been done is that which will be done again.
So there is nothing new under the sun.

Isaiah 45:9-10


“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who quarrels with his Maker—
A [worthless] piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces [equally worthless]!
Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
Or does the thing say, ‘He has no hands’?

Jeremiah 49:19

See, one will come like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan against the enduring habitation [of Edom] and its watered pastures; for in an instant I will make him (Edom) run from his land. I will appoint over him the one whom I choose. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me [into court] and prosecute Me [for this]? Who is the [earthly] shepherd who can stand [defiantly] before Me?”

Romans 9:19-20

You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain