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 painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them. 14These hoarded riches were then lost in bad business deals. The owners had children, but now they have nothing to give them. They came from their mother’s womb naked. They will leave as naked as they came. They won’t even be able to take a handful of their earnings with them from all their hard work. 16This also is a painful tragedy: They leave exactly as they came. What advantage do they gain from working so hard for the wind? 17They spend their entire lives in darkness, in constant frustration, sickness, and resentment.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• As he came forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• of his mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
• wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
• nakedעָרוֹם‛ârôm ‛ârôm · nakedH6174
• shall he returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• to goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• as he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and shall takeנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• nothingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• of his labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• in his handיָדyâd · handH3027

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:15

• Job 1:21He said, “Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away! May the name of the Lord be praised.”
• Psalms 49:17He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him.
• Luke 12:20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’
• 1 Timothy 6:7We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take 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