Ecclesiastes 5:16

Ecclesiastes 5:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
• New International Version (NIV)This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
• English Standard Version (ESV)This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:16

14When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 15As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person is born, so will he die. What then is the advantage for him who labors for the wind? 17All his life he also eats in darkness with great irritation, sickness, and anger. 18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

Ecclesiastes 5:16 word by word

וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

• Thisזֹהzôh · thisH2090
• alsoגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• is a sickeningחָלָהchâlâh · be weak: grievedH2470
• exactlyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• exactlyעֻמָּה‛ûmmâh · closeH5980
• isבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• soכֵּןkên · soH3651
• dieהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• Whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• then is the advantageיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• for him whoשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• laborsעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• for the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:16

• Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth being hoarded by its owner to his detriment.
• Ecclesiastes 2:22For what does a person get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?
• 1 Samuel 12:21Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless.
• Jeremiah 2:8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit.
• Mark 8:36For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
• Ecclesiastes 1:3What advantage does a person have in all his work Which he does under the sun?
• Proverbs 11:29One who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
• Isaiah 26:18We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, We gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born.
• Hosea 8:7For they sow wind And they harvest a storm. The standing grain has no kernels; It yields no grain. If it were to yield, strangers would swallow it.
• John 6:27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:16

• 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. 16-17Working just to gain possessions is like chasing the wind; it causes frustration, discouragement, and anger.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Even supposing that he loses not his wealth before death, then at least he must go stripped of it all (Psa 49:17). laboured for the wind--(Ho 12:1; 1Co 9:26).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:16

• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Points
• 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