Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 6:10

"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." — Ecclesiastes 6:10 (ASV)

Or, “That which has been named—that is, events past or current, either as they present themselves to man (Ecclesiastes 1:9) or as they are ordered by God (Ecclesiastes 3:15)—was long ago (that is, it was decreed, its nature and place were defined by the Almighty), and it was known that it is man;” that is, the course of events shapes the conduct and character of man, so that what he does and suffers is said to be or constitute the man.

God from the beginning definitively ordained the course of events external to man, and constituted man in such a way that events materially affect his conduct and his destiny.

Hence, God, by withholding from certain people the gift of contentment and thus subjecting them to vanity, is acting according to the predetermined course of His Providence, which man cannot alter .

Others translate, “What there is, its name is named long ago and known, that it is man;” that is, “What hath been and is, not only came into existence long ago (Ecclesiastes 1:9; Ecclesiastes 3:15), but also has been known and named, and it is acknowledged that it, besides other things, is specially man; that man always remains the same and cannot go beyond his appointed bounds.”

Him that is mightier—that is, God; compare Ecclesiastes 9:1; 1 Corinthians 10:22, and marginal references.