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

20Therefore I completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil. For what does a person get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23Because all his days his activity is painful and irritating; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is futility. 24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is 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

• For whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• does a personאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• getהָוָהhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1933
• allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• his laborעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• his strivingרַעְיוֹןra‛yôn · strivingH7475
• with whichשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• he laborsעָמֵל‛âmêl · laboriousH6001
• underתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
• the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:22

• Ecclesiastes 1:3What advantage does a person have in all his work Which he does under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 3:9What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?
• Ecclesiastes 5:10One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All a person’s labor is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is not satisfied.
• Ecclesiastes 8:15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be joyful, and this will stand by him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
• Proverbs 16:26A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.
• 1 Timothy 6:8If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
• Ecclesiastes 4:6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
• Psalms 127:2It is futile for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep.
• Matthew 6:11Give us this day our daily bread.
• Matthew 16:26For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?
• Luke 12:22And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• 1 Peter 5:7having cast all your anxiety 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