Ecclesiastes 5:16 kjv
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Ecclesiastes 5:16 nkjv
And this also is a severe evil? Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
Ecclesiastes 5:16 niv
This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
Ecclesiastes 5:16 esv
This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
Ecclesiastes 5:16 nlt
And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing ? like working for the wind.
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 1:21 | "Naked I came from my mother’s womb... and naked I shall return..." | Naked at birth, naked at death. |
| 1 Tim 6:7 | "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out..." | Cannot carry anything from earthly life. |
| Ps 49:17 | "For when he dies he will carry nothing away..." | Wealth not transported to afterlife. |
| Luke 12:20-21 | "...this very night your soul is required of you... then who will own what you have prepared?" | Rich fool's possessions lost at death. |
| Matt 6:19 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth..." | Heavenly treasure advised over earthly. |
| Prov 11:4 | "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath..." | Material wealth useless at divine judgment. |
| Eccl 2:11 | "Then I considered all that my hands had done... behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind..." | Confirmation of "wind" motif. |
| Eccl 2:18-19 | "I hated all my toil in which I toil... to the man who will come after me..." | Grief over leaving wealth to unknown heirs. |
| Ps 39:6 | "Surely a man walks as a mere phantom; surely they make an uproar in vain..." | Human life's ephemeral nature and vain show. |
| Ps 49:10 | "For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid perish... and leave their wealth to others." | The wise and foolish alike leave possessions. |
| James 4:14 | "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist..." | Life's transient, vapor-like quality. |
| 1 John 2:17 | "And the world is passing away, and also its lusts..." | The temporary nature of worldly desires. |
| Mark 8:36-37 | "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?..." | The incomparable value of the soul over earthly gain. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ..." | Re-evaluation of worldly achievements by spiritual priority. |
| Hab 2:13 | "Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples toil for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing?" | Divine assessment of futile labor. |
| Isa 55:2 | "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" | The unsatisfying nature of pursuits outside God's provision. |
| Job 27:8 | "For what hope has the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?" | Lack of eternal hope for the godless rich. |
| Rom 6:21 | "What fruit did you have then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death." | Ultimate outcome of unrighteous, worldly pursuits. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." | Believers' transient view of earthly life. |
| Col 3:2 | "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." | Spiritual focus over material focus. |
| Eccl 9:5 | "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and have no more reward..." | Finality of death and end of earthly reward. |
| Jer 17:11 | "Like the partridge that gathers a brood that is not her own, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days he will leave them..." | Unjust gains will be lost before death. |
| Ps 73:18-19 | "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin... how they are utterly swept away by terrors!" | The ultimate demise of the prospering wicked. |
Ecclesiastes 5 verses
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 5:16 pronounces a profound observation on the ultimate futility of material accumulation from a temporal perspective. It declares that the inevitable end for all, regardless of their earthly gains, is to depart life as empty-handed as they arrived. The verse highlights this reality as a "grievous evil" or a painful burden, posing a rhetorical question about what lasting "gain" anyone truly derives from relentless toil if it only serves to chase something as fleeting and insubstantial as wind. It emphasizes the absolute brevity and transient nature of human existence and its material pursuits when confronted with death.
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Context
Ecclesiastes 5:16 falls within a section of Qoheleth’s (the Preacher’s) observations on wealth, greed, and their inherent frustrations (Eccl 5:8-20). He has just lamented how increasing wealth often only increases those who consume it (v. 11), leading to worry for the rich (v. 12). Verse 13 highlighted the tragic reality of wealth hoarded to the owner's detriment, lost in an unfortunate venture, and leaving the owner nothing to pass on (v. 14). Verse 15 directly precedes our verse, reiterating the core theme of mortality: "As he came from his mother’s womb he shall return, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry it away in his hand." Verse 16 builds on this exact statement, affirming its gravity as a "grievous evil." The entire chapter and book ultimately point to the futility of seeking meaning or ultimate satisfaction in "under the sun" pursuits, guiding the reader towards fear of God and enjoyment of life's simple, God-given pleasures as the only true good (vv. 18-20).
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Word analysis
- And this also (גַּם־זֶה - gam-zeh): The phrase gam-zeh functions as a connector, reinforcing that this specific observation is another instance of the recurring "vanity" or "evil" that Qoheleth has identified. It links this statement to previous observations on the brokenness or absurdity of life's pursuits under the sun. It highlights a continuous pattern of disappointment.
- is a grievous evil (רָעָה חֹלָה - raʿah ḥolāh):
- Raʿah means "evil," "bad," "calamity," or "misfortune."
- Ḥolāh derives from the root ḥālāh, meaning "to be sick," "to be weak," "to be wounded," or "to be in pain."
- Combined, raʿah ḥolāh implies more than just "bad"; it signifies a "sickening evil," a "painful misfortune," a "disease" or "ailment" of existence. It conveys a deep, visceral sense of suffering or profound brokenness that is difficult to endure. It's not just unfortunate but intrinsically wrong or ailing.
- just as he came, so shall he go (כְּפִי צֵאתוֹ כֵּן יָשׁוּב - ke-fî tsēʾtô kēn yāšūv):
- Ke-fî tsēʾtô: "According to his coming forth," referring to birth.
- Kēn yāšūv: "So he shall return," referring to death and the return to dust.
- This phrase emphasizes absolute symmetry between one's arrival and departure in the world: utterly empty-handed and unadorned. There is no distinction made for accumulated wealth. It speaks to the ultimate equalizer of death. The language echoes the common human experience, transcending status or possessions.
- And what gain (וּמַה־יִּתְרוֹן - ū-mah-yitrôn):
- Mah is "what," an interrogative serving a rhetorical question.
- Yitrôn is a key term in Ecclesiastes, often translated "gain," "profit," or "advantage." It appears frequently (ten times in Ecclesiastes, rarely elsewhere in OT), forming a central theme. Qoheleth constantly seeks "what profit" there is in human endeavors.
- Here, it rhetorically asks what lasting advantage or ultimate benefit someone receives from their life's efforts when everything is lost at death. The implied answer is "none."
- does he have who toils (שֶׁיַּעֲמֹל - sheyyaʿamōl):
- She- is a relative pronoun ("who" or "that").
- Yaʿamōl derives from ʿāmal, meaning "to labor," "to toil," "to strive hard," often implying painful, arduous effort. It signifies persistent exertion, reflecting the human condition of endless striving.
- for the wind (לָרוּחַ - lā-rūaḥ):
- La- is a preposition "for," "to," or "after."
- Rūaḥ means "wind," "breath," "spirit," or "vanity" in Ecclesiastes. This phrase, "striving after wind" or "toiling for the wind," is another foundational motif in Qoheleth's philosophy. It symbolizes something insubstantial, ephemeral, uncontrollable, and ultimately ungraspable. One can exert great effort toward it, but nothing concrete or lasting is ever retained. It underscores the profound emptiness and pointlessness of such labor.
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Bonus section
The repeated motif of "striving after wind" (Eccl 1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 5:16; 6:9) highlights a key aspect of Qoheleth’s theology. It’s not merely that things are pointless, but that they are "under the sun" pursuits that miss a vertical, eternal dimension. The sorrow expressed in this verse points to the limitation of human wisdom and effort to achieve true satisfaction apart from God. The contrast presented in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, immediately following this grim observation, encourages finding joy in what God has given within life’s fleeting span, acknowledging Him as the source. This suggests that the Preacher is not promoting nihilism, but rather steering his audience away from idolatry of earthly things and toward a God-centered enjoyment of life’s simple gifts.
Ecclesiastes 5 16 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 5:16 is a blunt and melancholic assessment of the human condition concerning wealth and mortality. It confronts the core human drive to acquire and achieve, laying bare the truth that all earthly accomplishments, particularly material wealth, are ultimately perishable and cannot be carried beyond the grave. The phrase "grievous evil" isn't a moral condemnation of wealth itself but rather points to the tragic absurdity or profound vexation of pouring one's life into something that provides no lasting "gain" when life ends. The effort of "toiling for the wind" perfectly encapsulates the futility of chasing material possessions as a source of ultimate meaning or security, akin to trying to grasp the intangible air—it slips away. The verse challenges humanity's perception of "success" and "profit," reminding us that our earthly tenure is temporary, and death equalizes all, stripping away every acquisition. This leads to a profound existential question: if all material effort yields nothing lasting, what is truly worth striving for?