Ecclesiastes 3 9

Ecclesiastes 3:9 kjv

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

Ecclesiastes 3:9 nkjv

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

Ecclesiastes 3:9 niv

What do workers gain from their toil?

Ecclesiastes 3:9 esv

What gain has the worker from his toil?

Ecclesiastes 3:9 nlt

What do people really get for all their hard work?

Ecclesiastes 3 verses

Ecclesiastes 3 9 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 3:9 poses a profound rhetorical question: "What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?" This verse immediately follows the famous poem of "a time for everything" (Ecc 3:1-8), shifting the focus from God's appointed order of times to the human experience within those times. It challenges the conventional understanding that hard work inherently brings lasting, ultimate advantage or deep satisfaction. The implied answer, within the context of Ecclesiastes' recurring theme of "hebel" (vanity/meaninglessness) "under the sun," is often "none" or "very little" in terms of eternal gain or intrinsic fulfillment apart from a divine perspective. The verse inquires about the enduring, non-evaporating benefit of human toil.

Ecclesiastes 3 9 Context

Ecclesiastes 3:9 follows the iconic poetic meditation in verses 1-8, which enumerates pairs of antithetical activities or experiences, each having its "appointed time" ordained by God. This grand declaration establishes God's absolute sovereignty over all aspects of human life and experience, asserting that everything "under heaven" operates according to His divine timing and purpose.

Verse 9 then transitions abruptly from God's predetermined order to man's subjective experience within that order. It poses a direct challenge: if God controls all the "times" and "seasons," and human effort must fit within those boundaries, what is the profit or lasting advantage that a person actually gains from their laborious endeavors? This question reiterates the central inquiry of the book, first asked in Ecclesiastes 1:3, emphasizing the Qoheleth's persistent concern about the inherent emptiness or dissatisfaction found in earthly pursuits ("under the sun") when disconnected from divine purpose and enjoyment. Historically, it challenges prevailing wisdom traditions that might promise straightforward rewards for diligent labor, asserting that without God's blessing, even the most dedicated work can feel ultimately futile.

Ecclesiastes 3 9 Word analysis

• What profit: The Hebrew phrase is מַה־יִּתְרוֹן (mah-yitrōn).

  • מַה (mah): "What?" A direct interrogative particle, signifying a genuine inquiry, often implying skepticism about the expected answer.
  • יִּתְרוֹן (yitrōn): "Profit," "advantage," "gain," "superiority," "residue." This is a crucial keyword in Ecclesiastes, appearing ten times, almost exclusively in this book (only one other instance in Job). It refers to a surplus, a net gain, or an enduring benefit that remains after all effort and expenditure. The question is not whether immediate results are achieved, but if there is any lasting, non-evaporating advantage that accrues to the laborer.

• has the worker: הָעוֹשֶׂה (ha‘ōseh).

  • הָעוֹשֶׂה (ha‘ōseh): "The doer," "the one doing," "the one working" or "laboring." It refers generally to any human agent engaged in activity or effort. It encompasses anyone expending energy, time, and skill.

• from that in which: בַּאֲשֶׁר (ba’ăsher).

  • בַּאֲשֶׁר (ba’ăsher): "In which," "wherein," "concerning that which." This prepositional phrase points to the sphere or activity from which the profit (or lack thereof) is supposed to be derived.

• he labors: עָמֵל (ʿāmēl).

  • עָמֵל (ʿāmēl): From the root עָמַל ('amal), meaning "to labor," "to toil," "to strive," often implying wearisome effort, difficulty, and even distress or suffering associated with the work. This term appears frequently in Ecclesiastes, reinforcing the arduous and often burdensome nature of human activity in a fallen world.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "What profit... he labors?": This rhetorical question, a core theme of Ecclesiastes (Ecc 1:3), probes the ultimate value of human endeavor. It forces the reader to confront whether finite, earthly efforts can yield infinite, enduring gain or satisfaction. The implication is that merely "working hard" does not, in itself, guarantee an ultimate, lasting benefit in terms of peace, meaning, or true wealth when viewed without God. It critiques the idea of self-sufficient human activity as intrinsically fulfilling.
  • "the worker from that in which he labors": This phrase emphasizes the direct causal link questioned by Qoheleth. It implies that a worker should derive profit from their work. Yet, the Preacher casts doubt on whether this "profit" truly satisfies the soul or stands the test of time, pointing to the often unsatisfying, frustrating, or temporary nature of rewards gained purely from earthly toil, subject to all the vagaries of life "under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 3 9 Bonus section

This verse subtly underscores the foundational problem Qoheleth aims to solve throughout the book. If all things have a proper time ordained by God (Ecc 3:1-8), but humanity lacks the ability to find lasting gain from its actions within these times (Ecc 3:9), then a significant disjunction exists. This disconnect reveals the human struggle with meaninglessness in a divinely ordered world if that order is not properly understood and revered. The rhetorical nature of the question also implies that many would answer, at first, by pointing to obvious benefits, but Qoheleth's wisdom guides them to look beyond the immediate to the ultimate and eternal. It sets the stage for the book's eventual resolution, which points to fearing God and keeping His commandments (Ecc 12:13-14) as the ultimate source of profit and purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3 9 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:9 is a pivotal verse that transitions the Preacher's discourse from God's sovereign control over "time and season" to the seemingly limited human agency within it. The question of "profit" (yitrôn) cuts to the heart of the book's argument regarding the futility (hebel) of all human endeavors when approached without God. It's a rhetorical question, designed to provoke thought rather than demand a straightforward empirical answer.

The implied answer within Qoheleth's "under the sun" framework is that purely from an earthly perspective, human labor provides little or no lasting profit, inherent advantage, or enduring satisfaction. The "toil" (amal) often results in temporary gains, exhaustion, sorrow, and ultimately, nothing that transcends death or brings ultimate fulfillment. It acknowledges that immediate benefits may exist (food, shelter, a sense of accomplishment), but these are ephemeral and subject to unforeseen circumstances (Ecc 2:18-21, 5:13-14).

This is not a condemnation of work itself (Qoheleth encourages enjoyment of labor as a gift from God later, Ecc 2:24, 3:12-13), but rather a stark critique of work pursued solely for self-serving ends or with the expectation of achieving lasting purpose and meaning independent of God. True and lasting "profit" or satisfaction is portrayed elsewhere in Ecclesiastes as a gift from God, or in other parts of Scripture, as a reward for work done for and in the Lord, contributing to eternal purposes (1 Cor 15:58; Col 3:23-24). The verse effectively challenges the autonomous human drive for accomplishment, forcing recognition of dependency on divine blessing for genuine well-being and meaning.