Ecclesiastes 5:15

Ecclesiastes 5:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
• New International Version (NIV)Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:15

13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on. As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. 16This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? 17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 word by word

כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָצָא֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמּ֔וֹ עָר֛וֹם יָשׁ֥וּב לָלֶ֖כֶת כְּשֶׁבָּ֑א וּמְא֙וּמָה֙ לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א בַעֲמָל֔וֹ שֶׁיֹּלֵ֖ךְ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Asכַּאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · as whichH834
• cameיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• from his mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
• wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
• so he will departהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• againשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• nakedעָרוֹם‛ârôm ‛ârôm · nakedH6174
• as he arrivedבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• He takesנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• nothingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• nothingלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• for his laborעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• in his handsיָדyâd · handH3027

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:15

• Job 1:21saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
• Psalms 49:17For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
• Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
• 1 Timothy 6:7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15As he came forth - However it may be, he himself shall carry nothing with him into the eternal world. If he die worth millions, those millions are dead to him for ever; so he has had no real profit from all his labors, cares, anxieties, and vast property!Read the comment
• 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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-20Ec 5:1-20. 1. From vanity connected with kings, he passes to vanities (Ec 5:7) which may be fallen into in serving the King of kings, even by those who, convinced of the vanity of the creature, wish to worship the Creator. Keep thy foot--In going to worship, go with considerate, circumspect, reverent feeling. The allusion is to the taking off the shoes, or sandals, in entering a temple (Ex 3:5; Jos 5:15, which passages perhaps gave rise to the custom)…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:15

• Death
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Naked
• Vow
• 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