Ecclesiastes 5:9

Ecclesiastes 5:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
• New International Version (NIV)The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:9

7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. 8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. 10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Ecclesiastes 5:9 word by word

וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל ה֑וּא מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃Read the interlinear

• The produceיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• is taken by allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• is taken by allהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• the king himselfמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• profitsעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: labourH5647
• from the fieldsשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:9

• Genesis 1:29Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food.
• Genesis 3:17And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
• Psalms 104:14He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth:
• Psalms 115:16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
• Proverbs 13:23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
• Proverbs 27:23Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
• Proverbs 28:19The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
• Jeremiah 40:10As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”
• 1 Samuel 8:12He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
• 1 Kings 4:7Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year,
• 1 Chronicles 27:26Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields who tilled the soil.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The profit of the earth is for all - The earth, if properly cultivated, is capable of producing food for every living creature; and without cultivation none has a right to expect bread. The king himself is served by the field - Without the field he cannot have supplies for his own house; and, unless agriculture flourish, the necessary expenses of the state cannot be defrayed. Thus, God joins the head and feet together; for while the peasant is protected…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The king himself is served by the field - Rather, the king is subject to the field, i. e., is dependent on its cultivation. The higher ranks, if they oppress the lower, lose thereby their own means of subsistence.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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields: The New Living Translation sees these verses as saying that bureaucracy causes oppression instead of justice, even up to the king (see also 1 Samuel 8:11–18). This is not surprising because bureaucracies often work this way. Others interpret the verses to mean that the king and his officials…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. "The profit (produce) of the earth is (ordained) for (the common good of) all: even the king himself is served by (the fruits of) the field" (2Ch 26:10). Therefore the common Lord of all, high and low, will punish at last those who rob the "poor" of their share in it (Pr 22:22, 23; Am 8:4-7).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:9

• Agriculture
• Land
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• 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