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Answer
Ecclesiastes 11:1 states, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (ESV). This saying has resulted in various interpretations, some more effective than others. Let’s explore a couple of them in this article.
One interpretation suggests that the directive to “cast your bread upon the waters” pertains to international trade. The idea is that by investing your “bread” or “grain” wisely in a wide market, you will receive a return. This concept is highlighted in a few Bible translations:
“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return” (NIV).
“Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit” (GNT).
The challenge with viewing this verse as advice on international trade is that the context does not strongly support it. One of the themes of Ecclesiastes is that pursuing financial gain is “vanity” (see Ecclesiastes 5:10-17). Therefore, why would the author, Solomon, towards the end of the book, offer guidance on how to profit?
Another perspective is that the instruction to “cast your bread upon the waters” symbolizes generosity, even when a return seems improbable. A couple of translations emphasize this interpretation:
“Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded” (CEV).
“Do good wherever you go. After a while, the good you do will come back to you” (ERV).
This second, metaphorical interpretation likely aligns more with the verse’s intention. Casting bread or sowing seed on water appears to be a futile act. However, Solomon suggests that you cannot predict the actual outcomes; therefore, be generous in faith and anticipate a return at some point in the future. This aligns with Proverbs 11:18, “The one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward,” and Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
At the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Carrying that interpretation forward, let’s consider Ecclesiastes 11:1–2 together:
“Send out your grain across the sea;
after many days, you may receive a return.
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”
The passage as a whole conveys the principle of doing as much good as possible, understanding two things: the outcomes are in God’s hands, and you never know when you will need someone else’s generosity.
The book of Ecclesiastes stands out in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is the sole book that openly philosophizes. Specifically, Ecclesiastes is a book of practical philosophy—it is grounded in observation and experience, not in strained, esoteric ideas.
The focus in Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 is not on how water affects bread. It is about how our goodness impacts the world. The bread and water serve as imagery. The “bread,” which by metonymy is best understood as the seed of the bread (its grain), symbolizes our goodness, and the remainder of the passage urges us to be persistent in our “sowing.” We must “cast our bread”—we must generously extend our goodness, even when it appears to be ineffective (cf. Matthew 5:44 and Luke 14:13-14).
It’s important to note that Ecclesiastes 11:1 is not a sacred algorithm that dictates if you do X in the Y way, then Z will occur. Instead, Solomon offers us a principle and a recommendation. It is not a formula like those utilized in laboratories that consistently produce the same results. Sowing goodness falls within the realm of social science.
Solomon provides sound advice based on his observations. However, since people are involved—and since people are volitional beings—the maxim cannot ensure a positive outcome in every instance. This “no guarantees” aspect of bBenevolence is demonstrated by the phrase “upon the waters.” We cast our bread out into the world, and we simply cannot know if every seed will find a place to grow. What we do know is that a significant number of seeds will grow. We should not dwell on the fact that some of the seeds will not thrive (cf: Mark 4:3-20).
Casting bread upon the waters brings to mind the law of sowing and reaping. The seed in this case is one’s acts of goodness. There will be a harvest in heaven, if not in this world. However, the point Solomon makes is more than that we should sow goodness to reap a future harvest; the idea is for us to become people who will do good for goodness’ sake, regardless of the harvest.
Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 can reasonably be interpreted as, “Sow seeds of goodness every day, even when it doesn’t seem sensible to do so. In due season, you will reap a reward. Be diligent about sowing goodness, and accept no excuses! Then goodness will become a part of who you are, not just a thing that you do, and the world will be a better place because of it.”
