Ecclesiastes 5:16

Ecclesiastes 5:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
• New International Version (NIV)This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
• English Standard Version (ESV)This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:16

14For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child]. 15As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came; and he will take away nothing from all his labor that he can carry in his hand. This also is a grievous evil—exactly as he was born, so he shall die. So what advantage has he who labors for the wind? 17All of his life he also eats in darkness [cheerlessly, without sweetness and light], with great frustration, sickness, and anger. 18Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward.

Ecclesiastes 5:16 word by word

וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And thisזֹהzôh · thisH2090
• a soreחָלָהchâlâh · be weak: grievedH2470
• evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• in all pointsעֻמָּה‛ûmmâh · closeH5980
• as he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• so shall he goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and what profitיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• hath he that hath labouredעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• for the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:16

• Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery.
• Ecclesiastes 2:22For what does a man get from all his labor and from the striving and sorrow of his heart with which he labors under the sun?
• 1 Samuel 12:21You must not turn away, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.
• Jeremiah 2:8[Even] the priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who deal with the law [given to Moses] did not know Me. The rulers and shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal And walked after [idolatrous] things that did not benefit [them].
• Mark 8:36For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?
• Ecclesiastes 1:3What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)?
• Proverbs 11:29He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing), And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.
• Isaiah 26:18We have been with child, we have twisted and struggled in labor; We gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish salvation for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born.
• Hosea 8:7For they sow the wind [in evil] And they reap the whirlwind [in disaster]. The standing grain has no growth; It yields no grain. If it were to yield, strangers would swallow it up.
• John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:16

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more men have, the better house they must keep, the more servants they must employ, the more guests…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Working just to gain possessions is like chasing the wind; it causes frustration, discouragement, and anger.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Even supposing that he loses not his wealth before death, then at least he must go stripped of it all (Psa 49:17). laboured for the wind--(Ho 12:1; 1Co 9:26).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:16

• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Points
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings