Ecclesiastes 2:22

Ecclesiastes 2:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
• New International Version (NIV)What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?
• English Standard Version (ESV)What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:22

20So I began to give myself over to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 23For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. 24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,

Ecclesiastes 2:22 word by word

כִּ֠י מֶֽה־הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכָל־עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑וֹ שֶׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For what hathהָוָהhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1933
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• of all his labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• and of the vexationרַעְיוֹןra‛yôn · strivingH7475
• of his heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• whereinהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• he hath labouredעָמֵל‛âmêl · laboriousH6001
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:22

• Ecclesiastes 1:3What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 3:9What does the worker gain from his struggles?
• Ecclesiastes 5:10The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All of a person’s labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
• Proverbs 16:26A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.
• 1 Timothy 6:8If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
• Ecclesiastes 4:6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
• Psalms 127:2In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food — yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.
• Matthew 6:11Give us today our daily bread.
• Matthew 16:26For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?
• Luke 12:22Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.
• Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• 1 Peter 5:7casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22For what hath man of all his laborer - Labour of body, disappointment of hope, and vexation of heart, have been all my portion.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-26Verses 18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof, according to his rank and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-23The Teacher now examines the value of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12–17) and hard work (2:18–23). These, too, are futile (Ecclesiastes 2:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Same sentiment as in Ec 2:21, interrogatively.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:22

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Industry
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings