God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 5:9
9Yet, a king is an advantage for a country with cultivated fields.
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
7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear God. 8Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them. Yet, a king is an advantage for a country with cultivated fields. 10Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless. 11As the number of goods increase, so do the number of people who consume them. What do owners gain ⌞from all their goods⌟ except ⌞the opportunity⌟ to look at them?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:9 word by word
וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל ה֑וּא מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:9
- Genesis 1:29God said, “I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food.
- Genesis 3:17Then he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, ‘You must never eat its fruit.’ The ground is cursed because of you. Through hard work you will eat ⌞food that comes⌟ from it every day of your life.
- Psalms 104:14You make grass grow for cattle and make vegetables for humans to use in order to get food from the ground.
- Psalms 115:16The highest heaven belongs to the Lord, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.
- Proverbs 13:23When poor people are able to plow, there is much food, but a person is swept away where there is no justice.
- Proverbs 27:23Be fully aware of the condition of your flock, and pay close attention to your herds.
- Proverbs 28:19Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat. Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing.
- Jeremiah 40:10I’m going to live in Mizpah and represent you when the Babylonians come to us. Gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil, and put them in storage jars. Live in the cities you have taken over.”
- 1 Samuel 8:12He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.
- 1 Kings 4:7Solomon appointed 12 district governors in Israel. They were to provide food for the king and his palace. Each one had to supply food for one month every year.
- 1 Chronicles 27:26for the farm workers in the fields Ezri, son of Chelub
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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