New American Standard Bible 1995
Ecclesiastes 5:9
9After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
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 in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God. 8If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land. 10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. 11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:9 word by word
וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל ה֑וּא מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:9
- Genesis 1:29Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
- Genesis 3:17Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.
- Psalms 104:14He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth,
- Psalms 115:16The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.
- Proverbs 13:23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.
- Proverbs 27:23Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;
- Proverbs 28:19He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
- Jeremiah 40:10Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay at Mizpah to stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather in wine and summer fruit and oil and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over.”
- 1 Samuel 8:12He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
- 1 Kings 4:7Solomon had twelve deputies over all Israel, who provided for the king and his household; each man had to provide for a month in the year.
- 1 Chronicles 27:26Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the agricultural workers 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
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries