Ecclesiastes 2 18

Ecclesiastes 2:18 kjv

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:18 nkjv

Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:18 niv

I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:18 esv

I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,

Ecclesiastes 2:18 nlt

I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 18 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:18 expresses the profound disillusionment of Kohelet (the Preacher) with the accumulation of wealth and the fruits of diligent labor. He "hated" or felt an aversion toward all his toil because he recognized the inevitability of death would force him to leave everything he had amassed to another individual, whose character, wisdom, or foolishness was entirely unknown to him. This realization strips away any lasting satisfaction from his accomplishments, highlighting the futility of human endeavor focused solely on earthly gains and inheritance, underscoring the "vanity" or emptiness of such pursuits "under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 2 18 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 2 describes Kohelet's exhaustive personal quest to find meaning and satisfaction in various worldly pursuits. After exploring the pleasures of wine, folly, laughter, and grand achievements like building projects (gardens, parks, water reservoirs), accumulating wealth, slaves, and precious metals, he concludes that all these endeavors are ultimately "vanity and a striving after wind." Verse 18 directly follows his reflection on the fleeting nature of even wisdom's advantage over folly in the face of death (vv. 12-17). The vexation described in verse 18 springs from the realization that even diligently acquired wealth, meant to secure one's legacy, is stripped away by death and handed over to an unpredictable successor, negating the joy or purpose in its acquisition. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel, highly valued inheritance and family lineage. Wealth was seen as a means to ensure a family's continuity and standing. Kohelet's lament thus challenges deeply held cultural assumptions about the ultimate benefit and security provided by material accumulation and toil "under the sun," highlighting their ultimate insufficiency apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2 18 Word analysis

• Again / I hated (וְשָׂנֵאתִּי, vᵉsānêʾtî): The Hebrew verb śānēʾ typically means "to hate." However, in Ecclesiastes and other contexts, it can also convey a strong aversion, disappointment, or rejection due to the object's unbearable or displeasing nature, rather than personal malice. Kohelet expresses utter disillusionment and weariness, a profound resignation stemming from the realization of the vanity he experienced. It's an internal feeling of abhorrence towards the futility of a situation.

• all my toil (אֶת־ כָּל־ עֲמָלִי, ʾet-kāl-ʿămālî): Amal (עָמָל) denotes labor that is strenuous, painful, wearying, or burdensome. It implies effort that often produces no lasting or satisfactory outcome. It’s not just work, but wearisome exertion. Kohelet here refers to the entirety of his achievements and possessions resulting from this difficult, earthly effort.

• which I had toiled (שֶׁאֲנִי עָמֵל, šeʾănî ʿāmēl): Reinforces the personal, direct involvement in the burdensome labor. This is the fruit of his personal, hard work.

• under the sun (תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ, taḥat haššāmeš): A pervasive phrase in Ecclesiastes, appearing 29 times. It refers to human experience and endeavors confined to this temporal, earthly existence, without the benefit of a divine, transcendent, or eternal perspective. It frames the Kohelet’s worldview as limited to what can be observed and experienced in the physical world. This context inherently suggests futility, as earthly things are transient.

• because I must leave it (כִּי אֲנִיחֶנּוּ, kî ʾănîḥennû): Niach (נִיחַ) means to set down, deposit, leave behind. The imperative "must" indicates the inescapable reality of death. The fruits of one's entire life's work are inevitably relinquished. This highlights the boundary of human control—one cannot take possessions beyond death.

• to the man who will come after me (לָאָדָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אַחֲרָי, lāʾādām šeyyihyeh ʾaḥărāy): "The man" is generic, emphasizing the anonymity and uncertainty of the heir. It’s not necessarily a child but anyone who happens to follow in succession. This highlights the ultimate lack of control over the legacy and destiny of one's amassed fortune and the product of one’s life.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "I hated all my toil which I had toiled under the sun": This phrase encapsulates Kohelet's deep spiritual and emotional weariness. It's not the labor itself that is hated, but the existential outcome: the fruits of all strenuous, "under the sun" effort leading to a void because of their inevitable loss and uncertain future. It points to a profound disillusionment with worldly pursuits when disconnected from an eternal purpose.
  • "because I must leave it to the man who will come after me": This specifies the core source of vexation. The forced relinquishing of personal achievements to an unknown entity signifies a complete loss of control over one's legacy. This uncontrollable handover to an often-undeserving or unknown successor underlines the ultimate pointlessness of self-serving accumulation.

Ecclesiastes 2 18 Bonus section

• The stark contrast in Kohelet's reflections arises because he is assessing life solely "under the sun," a finite perspective without recourse to divine meaning or an eternal hope.
• This verse sets the stage for the Kohelet's continued questioning in Ecclesiastes 2:19-21, where he directly asks "who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?" and laments the perceived injustice of a wise person toiling for a fool.
• The inherent unfairness described by Kohelet—working hard for someone else to potentially squander it—contributes to the feeling of hevel (futility/vanity), which pervades the book.
• Despite this lament, Kohelet eventually finds meaning and enjoyment as gifts from God, particularly the simple joys of eating, drinking, and finding satisfaction in one's toil (Eccl 2:24, 3:12-13, 5:18-20), presenting a redemptive alternative to this initial despair.

Ecclesiastes 2 18 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:18 vividly expresses Kohelet's anguish over the fleeting nature of worldly achievements. His "hatred" is a profound disappointment with the intrinsic lack of ultimate satisfaction from even highly successful labor when viewed through the lens of mortality. The inevitability of death means that one cannot take one's hard-earned wealth into the afterlife. The added sting is the complete lack of control over how this wealth will be used by the inheritor, who might be wise or foolish, careful or reckless. This realization effectively negates the long-term perceived benefit of personal acquisition. The verse powerfully argues that labor for material accumulation, solely pursued "under the sun" and disconnected from divine purpose, is ultimately an empty endeavor. It forces a contemplation of what truly endures beyond personal effort and earthly life, pointing towards a wisdom that acknowledges God's sovereignty over possessions and future. For practical application, consider: A successful business owner realizes that even his perfectly managed company could be ruined by a foolish heir; or a wealthy collector laments that his prized art will likely be sold off by descendants who do not appreciate its value or even divide it up in conflicts.