Ecclesiastes 2:19 kjv
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 nkjv
And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 niv
And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 esv
and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 nlt
And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 39:5 | Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best is pure vanity... | Shortness of life, futility of human endeavors |
| Ps 49:10-11 | For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the senseless perish together, And leave their wealth to others... | Inevitable transfer of wealth to others |
| Prov 27:1 | Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. | Uncertainty of the future |
| Prov 28:8 | Whoever increases his possession by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. | Wealth gained unfairly eventually changes hands |
| Lk 12:20-21 | But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. | Parable of the rich fool, focus on earthly treasure |
| Jas 4:13-14 | Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city... whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor... | Life's brevity and uncertain future |
| Mt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... | Earthly vs. heavenly treasure |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ... I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... | Earthly gain is loss compared to Christ |
| Prov 13:22 | A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. | Inheritance laws, divine reversal |
| Prov 17:2 | A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among brothers. | Merit, not birthright, can determine leadership |
| Ps 73:3-5 | For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men... | Injustice of the wicked prospering |
| Eccl 1:3 | What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? | Core question of profit from human effort |
| Eccl 1:9 | What has been will be again... There is nothing new under the sun. | Repetitive nature of life without God |
| Eccl 9:11 | The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong... But time and chance happen to them all. | Human effort not always decisive |
| Eccl 4:7-8 | Then I saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone, without a second; He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor... For whom do I toil and deprive myself of pleasure? | Solitary toil and unknown inheritors |
| Prov 20:21 | An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. | Unjustly acquired inheritance has no blessing |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me... | True glory in knowing God, not human achievements |
| 1 Cor 1:19-20 | For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | Worldly wisdom made foolish by God |
| 1 Cor 3:12-15 | Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear... if anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss... | Value of work judged by God |
| Ps 78:6-7 | That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God... | Legacy with a focus on spiritual instruction |
Ecclesiastes 2 verses
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 2:19 expresses the Preacher's deep vexation regarding the ultimate futility of his painstaking labor and wisdom "under the sun." He recognizes that all he has acquired and achieved will eventually fall into the hands of a successor whose character—whether wise or foolish—is completely beyond his control or knowledge. The anguish stems from the realization that a fool could inherit and potentially squander or destroy what was built with immense effort and skill. This inescapable lack of control over the fruits of his life's work leads him to conclude that it is, indeed, another form of "vanity" or meaninglessness.
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Context
Ecclesiastes 2:19 falls within the Preacher's extensive self-experiment to find meaning and purpose in various pursuits, apart from God. Having explored the pursuit of pleasure, wisdom, wealth, great works, and intellectual satisfaction (Eccl 2:1-11), he found them all lacking and ultimately "vanity." He then contrasts wisdom with folly (Eccl 2:12-17), acknowledging wisdom's temporal advantages but realizing that both the wise and the fool share the same fate: death. This realization transitions directly into his lament in verse 18 about having to leave all his toil and its fruits to another. Verse 19 specifically details the core frustration: the uncertainty of the successor's character and worthiness, highlighting the deep futility of labor when one cannot control its ultimate destination or preservation. The broader context of Ecclesiastes persistently questions the "profit" or "gain" (yitron) from anything "under the sun" that lacks an eternal perspective, invariably concluding that human endeavors, self-sufficient and detached from God, are "hebel"—meaningless and fleeting.
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Word analysis
- And who knows: This phrase introduces a profound rhetorical question, indicating extreme uncertainty and an inability to predict or control future events. It conveys a sense of resignation and lack of foresight inherent to human experience.
- whether he will be: Emphasizes the character and disposition of the future inheritor. The Preacher acknowledges that the successor is a separate, autonomous individual whose choices are unknown.
- a wise man (Hebrew: ḥāḵām, חָכָם): Refers to someone intelligent, skilled, prudent, and capable of good judgment. It implies someone who could manage and build upon the inherited legacy. In the biblical context, true wisdom often implies aligning with God's ways.
- or a fool? (Hebrew: kĕsîl, כְּסִיל): This term denotes a dull, stupid, impious, or obstinate person, characterized by a rejection of wisdom and sound judgment. A kesil is not merely ignorant but actively chooses foolish ways, often leading to ruin and destruction (cf. Prov 1:7). The thought of such a person inheriting evokes dread.
- yet shall he have rule over all my labor: Despite the Preacher's diligent effort and wisdom, the successor will wield absolute authority over the results of that work. "Rule" (Hebrew: māshal, מָשַׁל) signifies having dominion and control, emphasizing the transfer of power and ownership.
- wherein I have labored: Highlights the personal toil, exertion, and painstaking effort invested by the Preacher. This emphasizes the value and energy he put into his accomplishments.
- and wherein I have showed myself wise: Denotes not just physical exertion but also mental acuity, strategic planning, and skillful application of knowledge. It underlines the Preacher's intellectual investment and pride in his judicious management.
- under the sun: A characteristic phrase of Ecclesiastes, occurring almost 30 times. It defines the earthly, temporal, human perspective, apart from divine revelation or eternal perspective. Things viewed "under the sun" are bound by the limitations of time, chance, and human experience. It underscores that all achievements mentioned are confined to this transient life.
- This also is vanity. (Hebrew: hebel, הֶבֶל): The recurring refrain of the book, meaning "breath," "vapor," "futility," "meaningless," or "absurdity." It signifies that despite all efforts, accomplishments, and the potential of a well-lived life, the ultimate outcome is unfulfilling and without lasting substance when viewed apart from God. The lack of control over the successor renders the work void of enduring personal significance for the toiler.
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Bonus section
The Preacher's anguish in this verse reveals a universal human anxiety: the desire for our life's work to have lasting significance and to be carried forward with care. This deep-seated longing for legacy is fundamentally challenged when we realize we cannot ensure its proper stewardship after we are gone. This particular lament from Ecclesiastes subtly prepares the reader for the ultimate conclusion of the book, which shifts focus from the ephemeral "under the sun" to the eternal wisdom and fear of God as the true, lasting meaning. It highlights the inherent inadequacy of purely human wisdom and efforts to secure ultimate contentment or purpose.
Ecclesiastes 2 19 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 2:19 encapsulates one of the core disillusionments of the Preacher: the utter lack of control over one's legacy. He recognizes that no matter how much wisdom, effort, or skill he pours into building and accumulating, the fruit of his labor is inevitably handed over at his death. The agonizing point is the uncertainty regarding the character of the inheritor. Will they be a wise individual who cultivates and extends the accomplishments, or a foolish one who thoughtlessly squanders or destroys them? This question renders all his "labor under the sun" (human striving within a purely earthly framework) a hollow exercise, hence "vanity." The Preacher is confronted with the stark reality that human autonomy is limited; even over one's most significant achievements, true enduring control remains elusive. This painful realization pushes towards a search for meaning beyond human endeavor and control, implicitly pointing to a sovereignty greater than man's.