Ecclesiastes 3:10 kjv
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
Ecclesiastes 3:10 nkjv
I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
Ecclesiastes 3:10 niv
I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
Ecclesiastes 3:10 esv
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
Ecclesiastes 3:10 nlt
I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:15 | The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it... | Humanity created to work, a divine design. |
| Gen 3:17-19 | By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread... | Toil intensified after the fall, divine judgment. |
| Job 5:7 | man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. | Human existence is inherently difficult. |
| Ps 90:17 | May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us | Prayer for God to bless and affirm human labor. |
| Ps 127:1-2 | Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it... | Emphasizes the futility of toil without God. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | God's sovereignty over human endeavors. |
| Ecc 1:3 | What gain has a man from all the toil at which he toils under the sun? | Introduces the question of profit from human labor. |
| Ecc 1:13 | I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business... | Koheleth's deep observation of human "unhappy business." |
| Ecc 2:22-23 | What does a man get for all the toil and striving of heart... | Man's vexation and sorrow through his toil. |
| Ecc 2:24-25 | There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink... for God gives this pleasure to him. | Enjoyment of work's fruits as a gift from God. |
| Ecc 3:9 | What gain has the worker from his toil? | Immediate context: profitlessness of toil despite cycles. |
| Ecc 3:12-13 | I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful... because it is God's gift. | Enjoyment of life and toil's fruit as a divine gift. |
| Ecc 5:18-20 | for he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. | Finding satisfaction in God's provision for toil. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, | God's ultimate purpose in all of life's experiences. |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | your labor in the Lord is not in vain. | Redemptive perspective on Christian labor. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you | God's enabling work behind human effort and diligence. |
| 1 Thess 4:11-12 | to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands | Practical Christian command to labor diligently. |
| 2 Thess 3:10 | If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. | Divine principle encouraging responsible labor. |
| 2 Tim 2:6 | It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. | Hard work as a divine expectation and deserving reward. |
| Heb 12:11 | For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness | Adversity and struggle bringing about positive results. |
| James 1:2-4 | Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds... | Challenges and trials having a refining purpose. |
Ecclesiastes 3 verses
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 3:10 declares Koheleth’s observation that the incessant toil, striving, and even vexation which defines human existence is not accidental but a specific assignment from God to humanity. It reveals a divine intention behind the human experience of effort and struggle, a purposeful burden that keeps people engaged and seeking understanding beyond the purely mundane.
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 3 begins with the iconic poem, verses 1-8, outlining the paradox of "a time for everything"—a fixed cycle of events appointed by God over which humanity has no control. Verse 9 then poses a rhetorical question, "What profit has the worker from his toil?" The answer implicitly drawn from verses 1-8 is: very little, if any, lasting gain or ultimate satisfaction from labor when viewed solely "under the sun." Verse 10 builds directly upon this, stating that this very "toil" or "occupation," which seems so frustrating and cyclical, is actually a specific and deliberate assignment from God to humanity. This establishes that even the seemingly fruitless human endeavor serves a divine purpose, preparing the reader for Koheleth’s subsequent exploration of God’s sovereignty (vv. 11-15) and how to live wisely within it.
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Word analysis
- I have seen: Hebrew: רָאִיתִי (
ra'iti). This verb signifies direct observation and empirical evidence. Koheleth, the Preacher, is presenting his conclusions based on a thorough and personal examination of life "under the sun," emphasizing that his assertions are drawn from experience. - the task: Hebrew: עִנְיָן (
inyan). This crucial word carries a rich range of meanings. While often translated "task," "travail," or "business," it encompasses the whole of human striving, activity, preoccupation, and engagement, which can be burdensome, vexing, or afflictive. It refers to the human condition of incessant, consuming effort and mental engagement. It’s not just a specific job, but the overall pursuit and effort that defines human life. - that God: Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים (
Elohim). This is the common Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His role as Creator and Sovereign Ruler. The verse unequivocally states the divine origin of this "task." - has given: Hebrew: נָתַן (
natan). To give, put, set, assign. This verb highlights divine initiative and intentionality. The human struggle and ceaseless occupation are not accidental or chaotic but purposefully bestowed by God. It indicates a deliberate decree or disposition from God towards humanity. - to the children of man: Hebrew: בְּנֵי הָאָדָם (
bene ha'adam). This phrase refers to all of humanity, mankind universally, underscoring that this "task" or "travail" is a common, universal experience for every human being. - to be occupied with / to be exercised in it: Hebrew: לַעֲנוֹת בּוֹ (
la'anot bo). This phrase, using the Niphal infinitive construct of the verb ענה (anah), is multifaceted. It can mean "to be afflicted," "to be humbled," "to be preoccupied," or "to busy oneself with." The precise nuance here suggests that the purpose of this divine assignment is to keep humanity actively engaged, perhaps in a way that leads to struggle, a degree of vexation, or mental labor. It points to the constant mental and physical exertion that characterizes human life.
Words-group analysis:
- "I have seen the task that God has given": This phrase establishes the Preacher’s deep, empirical observation of life, asserting a divine origin and intention behind humanity's pervasive, seemingly endless toil. It suggests that what might appear to be a burdensome existence is, in fact, an ordained reality by the Almighty.
- "to the children of man to be occupied with": This highlights the universal application of this divine assignment across all humanity. The purpose is that people are kept perpetually busy, engaged, and even afflicted or humbled by their various occupations, endeavors, and life struggles. This perpetual state of being occupied or burdened ensures humanity does not fully comprehend the whole of God’s plan or escape the reality of toil.
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Bonus section
The term inyan (task/travail) encapsulates the weariness, frustration, and unending nature of human activity that the Preacher repeatedly highlights as "vanity." By stating that Elohim (God) natan (gave) this inyan la'anot bo (to be occupied/afflicted by it), the Preacher introduces a crucial theological layer. It posits that human limitations, struggle, and incessant activity are not random or futile in the ultimate sense, but part of a sovereign design. This design serves to continually keep humanity engaged in matters beyond their full comprehension or control, thereby indirectly preventing a purely materialistic worldview. The assigned toil, with its inherent frustrations, often drives people to look beyond themselves for ultimate satisfaction, peace, and meaning. It is a subtle but powerful argument against atheism or a purely humanistic worldview that sees human struggle as an arbitrary outcome, implying instead a deliberate, if often veiled, divine purpose behind all of human endeavor and limitation.
Ecclesiastes 3 10 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 3:10 pivots from a poetic description of life's unchangeable cycles to an assertion of divine design behind human toil. The "task" or "travail" is not merely physical labor but the constant preoccupation, striving, and even vexation inherent in life "under the sun." Koheleth perceives that God has specifically assigned this inyan to humanity. This suggests that the weariness and endless pursuit are not accidental but purposeful, potentially serving to humble mankind, limit human pride, and encourage dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency. This divine assignment of relentless human activity ultimately prevents full human comprehension or control, leading man back to ponder the hand of the Creator. It highlights that God uses the very struggles and busyness of life to draw humanity to deeper questions about meaning, purpose, and the divine will.