Ecclesiastes 2 21

Ecclesiastes 2:21 kjv

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 nkjv

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 niv

For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 esv

because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 nlt

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn't worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 21 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:21 expresses the vexation and futility experienced by one who meticulously and skillfully toils to acquire and accumulate possessions, only for them to pass into the hands of another who has expended no effort whatsoever. From the Preacher's "under the sun" perspective, this unjust distribution makes even a life of productive, wise labor seem meaningless, labeling it not just "vanity" but "a great evil."

Ecclesiastes 2 21 Context

Ecclesiastes 2:21 is deeply embedded in the Preacher's existential exploration (Eccl 1:12-2:26) to determine what is truly beneficial for humanity "under heaven" or "under the sun." After experimenting with wisdom, pleasure, wine, magnificent projects (houses, vineyards, gardens, pools), possessions, slaves, livestock, gold, and song, he concludes that all is "vanity and striving after wind" (Eccl 2:11). Verses 18-21 specifically lament the ultimate futility of labor, as all its fruits must be left to another, whose character (wise or foolish) is unknown and often undeserving. Verse 21 intensifies this complaint, highlighting the injustice when someone who applied wisdom, knowledge, and skill in their toil must pass their accumulated portion to one who did not exert any such effort. This reflects the historical reality where family members or rulers could inherit or confiscate wealth, making a long-term legacy uncertain and eroding personal motivation if future benefits are lost. It also hints at a subtle polemic against any belief system that ties material acquisition directly to a guarantee of lasting personal benefit or deserved legacy without divine intervention or perspective.

Ecclesiastes 2 21 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation for the preceding lament about labor's fruit. It signals a further elaboration on the problem.
• there is (יֵשׁ, yesh): An existential particle, meaning "there exists" or "it is." Simple declaration of a common scenario.
• a man (אָדָם, 'adam): General term for humanity, signifying "a person" or "anyone." It makes the observation universally applicable to human experience.
• whose labor (עֲמָלוֹ, 'amalo): From עָמָל ('amal), meaning toil, trouble, painful effort, or burdensome labor. This word often carries connotations of weariness and struggle.
• is with wisdom (בְּחָכְמָה, b'chokmah): Refers to skilled, insightful, and discerning effort. It emphasizes intelligent application of understanding in work.
• and with knowledge (וּבְדַעַת, uv'da'at): From דַּעַת (da'at), signifying intellectual understanding, insight, and acquired information applied to one's craft.
• and with skill (וּבְכִישְׁרוֹן, uv'kishron): From כִּשְׁרוֹן (kishron), meaning success, ability, or effective capability. This implies that the laborer not only toiled wisely but also achieved a successful outcome. This combination highlights a master craftsman or highly effective manager.
• yet he gives his portion (וּלְאָדָם לֹא־עָמַל בָּהּ יִתְּנֶנָּה חֶלְקוֹ, u-le'adam lo-'amal bah yitt'nenna chelqo): This is a crucial phrase.
  • gives his portion (יִתְּנֶנָּה חֶלְקוֹ, yitt'nenna chelqo): To give away or bequeath one's share, lot, or inheritance (חֶלֶק, cheleq).
  • to a man who has not toiled for it (לְאָדָם לֹא־עָמַל בָּהּ, le'adam lo-'amal bah): "To a man who has not labored/toiled in/for it." This is the core of the lament: the inheritor is undeserving because they put in no effort for what they receive.
• This also (גַּם־זֶה, gam zeh): The recurring refrain of Ecclesiastes, linking this specific observation to the broader theme of "vanity."
• is vanity (הֶבֶל, hevel): The central theme of Ecclesiastes, signifying emptiness, breath, vapor, meaninglessness, futility, or transience. It points to a lack of substance or lasting satisfaction.
• and a great evil (וְרָעָה רַבָּה, v'ra'ah rabbah): A strong phrase.
  • evil (רָעָה, ra'ah): Misfortune, calamity, sorrow, harm, or morally wrong. It's not just fleeting but fundamentally grievous or problematic.
  • great (רַבָּה, rabbah): Considerable, immense. This indicates that the situation described causes significant distress or a profound sense of injustice, beyond simple frustration. It’s a weighty declaration of cosmic injustice from the human perspective.

Ecclesiastes 2 21 Bonus section

The phrase "a great evil" (וְרָעָה רַבָּה, v'ra'ah rabbah) here elevates the Preacher's typical declaration of "vanity" (hevel). While hevel suggests emptiness and transience, ra'ah rabbah implies a moral or profound societal wrong, or at least a deeply grievous sorrow. It goes beyond mere intellectual observation to an emotional complaint against the apparent injustice embedded in the human condition, where righteous effort does not guarantee deserved retention or continuation of one's legacy. This sets up the later resolution in Ecclesiastes, which suggests finding joy and satisfaction in the labor itself as a gift from God, rather than focusing on the ultimate disposition of its material fruits (Eccl 2:24-25). This shifts the source of true gain from the outcome of effort to the present experience of a divinely enabled gift. It suggests that while worldly circumstances cannot guarantee a perfect legacy, divine provision can grant a deeper contentment and meaning in the activity of life.

Ecclesiastes 2 21 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:21 cuts to the heart of a significant source of existential frustration for the Preacher: the disassociation between diligent, skilled effort and its ultimate reward. Despite a person's wise planning, profound understanding, and effective execution in labor, the fruits of this intensive effort—their accumulated wealth and possessions—are inevitably bequeathed to someone else. The "great evil" arises from the fact that this inheritor may have invested no sweat, skill, or wisdom into acquiring it, rendering the original laborer's lifetime of careful toil seemingly pointless in terms of enduring personal legacy. It highlights the uncontrollable nature of what happens "under the sun," undermining human attempts to secure meaning and lasting benefit solely through earthly achievement. From the Preacher's perspective, this reality reveals a deep systemic injustice in the world, one that cannot be rectified by human wisdom alone. It suggests that if meaning is sought purely in what one accumulates or leaves behind, it will inevitably lead to disappointment because such things are not eternally secure or within human control.