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

13Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery. 14Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil. 16This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind? 17Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

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’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!”
• Psalms 49:17For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.
• Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
• 1 Timothy 6:7For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.

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