Ecclesiastes 2 22

Ecclesiastes 2:22 kjv

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:22 nkjv

For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:22 niv

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:22 esv

What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:22 nlt

So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 22 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:22 poses a poignant rhetorical question that encapsulates Qoheleth’s central finding about life observed "under the sun." It asks what lasting advantage or ultimate profit a person gains from all the wearisome labor and intense mental striving undertaken in their earthly life. The implicit answer, consistent with the preceding verses of chapter 2, is "nothing of enduring value." Despite monumental effort in accumulating wealth, wisdom, or pleasure, all these human pursuits are ultimately fleeting and do not provide true or lasting satisfaction, especially when viewed against the backdrop of mortality and the ephemeral nature of all things apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2 22 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 2 describes Qoheleth's ambitious pursuit of various worldly experiences and achievements—including pleasure, wealth, grand building projects, and accumulating wisdom—to determine if any of these could provide ultimate meaning and satisfaction in life. He dedicated himself wholeheartedly to these endeavors, excelling beyond all others in Jerusalem. However, after extensive experimentation and profound self-reflection, he consistently arrived at the conclusion, stated in verse 11, that "all was vanity and grasping for the wind." Verse 22 acts as a summary and rhetorical query, specifically isolating the effort involved in these pursuits and asking about its ultimate recompense. This historical context reveals the immense resources available to the author (traditionally Solomon), allowing him to perform the most comprehensive of human experiments, which ultimately still failed to find enduring meaning within the "under the sun" framework. The entire book challenges a purely human-centered worldview, critiquing any belief that diligence and material success inherently bring happiness or security.

Ecclesiastes 2 22 Word analysis

• For what (וְכִי מַה־יֵּתָר, vekhi mah-yetar): The introductory "and indeed" or "so then" (vekhi) introduces a profound question using mah ("what"). The key term is yetar, from the verb yathar, meaning "to remain," "to be left over," or "to have an advantage/profit." This is a fundamental inquiry: What lasting benefit, residue, or ultimate gain does one derive? It probes beyond superficial returns to inquire about an enduring surplus that transcends temporary possession.
• does a man get: Refers to the individual's ultimate acquisition or benefit derived from personal endeavors. The focus is on the subjective experience of value or gain.
• in all his toil (בְּכָל־עֲמָלוֹ, b'khol-‘amalo):
  • Khol ("all") emphasizes the totality of the effort.
  • ‘Amal (‘amal) is a critical Hebrew term in Ecclesiastes, often rendered "toil," "labor," "trouble," or "grievous task." It conveys labor that is arduous, burdensome, and frequently coupled with pain, frustration, and dissatisfaction. It denotes both physical exertion and the weariness of the spirit that accompanies it, pointing to the curse on human labor since the Fall (Gen 3:17).
• and in his striving (וּבְרַעְיוֹן לִבּוֹ, u’vrayon libbo):
  • Ra`yon libbo ("striving of his heart" or "stretching of his mind").
  • Ra`yon comes from a root related to "to graze" or "to tend," but here implies mental application, a deep preoccupation, ambitious planning, desire, or mental vexation. It indicates an intense internal mental and emotional effort, a persistent longing or reaching for fulfillment through human endeavors.
  • Libbo ("his heart") signifies the intellectual, emotional, and volitional center, confirming that the striving encompasses the entire inner being. This denotes profound, internal investment.
• with which he toils (שֶׁהוּא עָמֵל, shehu ‘amel): The repetition of ‘amal (here as an active participle) reinforces the continuous, inherent, and burdensome nature of this labor. It emphasizes that ‘amal is not just an activity but a persistent condition of human life "under the sun," marked by constant, taxing effort.
• under the sun (תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, tachat ha’shemesh): This iconic phrase, recurring throughout Ecclesiastes, defines the philosophical scope of the book. It limits observation to the earthly, finite realm of human experience, apart from divine revelation or a transcendent perspective. Everything considered "under the sun" is subjected to decay, death, and cycles, making long-term profit or meaning elusive within this framework.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "all his toil and in his striving with which he toils": This phrase meticulously captures the comprehensiveness of human effort—from outward physical exertion (‘amal) to inward mental ambition and vexation (ra'yon libbo). The threefold emphasis on ‘amal (once as noun, twice as verb) powerfully highlights the unending, burdensome, and inherent nature of human labor within the finite realm. The implication is that despite the absolute maximal effort, the ultimate gain remains zero.
• "What does a man get... under the sun?": This entire rhetorical question, framed by "under the sun," is the bedrock of Qoheleth's skeptical inquiry. The absence of a "profit" or "gain" within this confined, earthly worldview drives the Preacher's core message. It forces the reader to confront the reality that focusing solely on human endeavor apart from a higher purpose leads to ultimate emptiness, because earthly accomplishments cannot escape the universal fate of death and forgetfulness.

Ecclesiastes 2 22 Bonus section

• The rhetorical structure of Ecclesiastes 2:22 compels the reader to actively engage with the question, rather than passively receiving an answer. This method is typical of wisdom literature designed to provoke deep philosophical and theological reflection.
• This verse effectively lays the groundwork for understanding the book's concluding message in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, which ultimately reveals that true profit and meaning are found not "under the sun" in human endeavors, but "above the sun" in revering God and obeying His commandments. It presents the "problem" to which "fearing God" becomes the "solution."
• The language of "toil" and "striving of the heart" vividly portrays the existential weariness that results from human autonomy and a life consumed by self-reliance without spiritual direction. It encompasses the exhaustion of both body and soul when ultimate meaning is sought in the temporal realm.

Ecclesiastes 2 22 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:22 delivers a crucial summary of Qoheleth’s personal investigations into finding life’s meaning within the sphere of human effort and achievement. It is a powerful rhetorical question expressing the vanity and futility inherent in relentlessly pursuing material wealth, pleasure, or even wisdom, when detached from a divine perspective. The emphasis is on the profound lack of ultimate profit (yetar) that endures beyond one’s lifetime, contrasting sharply with the immense, continuous wearisome labor (‘amal) and intense mental/emotional exertion (rayon libbo`). The "under the sun" frame makes it clear that this bleak outlook arises when life is considered purely from an earthly standpoint. It is not an indictment against work itself, but against the idolatry of work and its products as a source of ultimate fulfillment or security. For instance, a CEO might dedicate decades to building an empire, but this verse suggests that empire holds no true benefit for him beyond his transient earthly existence. Similarly, a scholar striving for intellectual acclaim may find that such striving, though demanding, brings no enduring gain beyond the brief period of earthly recognition.