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

20Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun. 21For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun? 23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. 24There is nothing good for man, but that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:22 word by word

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

• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:22

• Ecclesiastes 1:3What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 3:9What profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth?
• Ecclesiastes 5:10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This also is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15And I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
• Proverbs 16:26The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
• 1 Timothy 6:8But having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these.
• Ecclesiastes 4:6Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
• Psalms 127:2It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.
• Matthew 6:11give us to-day our needed bread,
• Matthew 16:26For what does a man profit, if he should gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
• Luke 12:22And he said to his disciples, For this cause I say unto you, Be not careful for life, what ye shall eat, nor for the body, what ye shall put on.
• Philippians 4:6Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
• 1 Peter 5:7having cast all your care upon him, for 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