Ecclesiastes 5 19

Ecclesiastes 5:19 kjv

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 nkjv

As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor?this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 niv

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil?this is a gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 esv

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil ? this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 nlt

And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life ? this is indeed a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 5 verses

Ecclesiastes 5 19 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 5:19 conveys a profound truth: true satisfaction derived from wealth, possessions, and labor is not merely a product of human effort or fortune, but a direct, gracious gift from God. It highlights that the mere acquisition of riches is insufficient; rather, the divine enablement to enjoy these provisions, to find contentment in one's appointed portion, and to experience joy in one's work are all supernatural blessings, flowing from God's hand. This perspective offers a positive counterpoint to the book's prevalent theme of futility under the sun, demonstrating how even material aspects of life can become sources of divine joy when viewed and experienced through God's gracious provision.

Ecclesiastes 5 19 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 5 specifically addresses practical aspects of life under the sun, transitioning from the sacred to the mundane. It begins by warning against superficial worship, rash vows, and excessive words before God (vv. 1-7). It then shifts focus to wealth, discussing the injustice seen in society, where the powerful exploit the poor, and the seemingly endless pursuit of riches that fails to bring satisfaction (vv. 8-12). Verses 13-17 illustrate the bitter irony and insecurity of wealth, detailing how riches can be hoarded to one's own hurt, lost through misfortune, or provide no comfort in death. Immediately preceding verse 19, verse 18 acts as a thematic introduction, stating, "Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toals under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his portion." Ecclesiastes 5:19 then deepens this insight, identifying that the ability to genuinely enjoy wealth, possessions, and one's labor, alongside acceptance of one's circumstances, is explicitly a divine enablement—a gift from God, contrasting with the previous futility associated with wealth accumulation alone.

Ecclesiastes 5 19 Word analysis

• Moreover / Every man also: (גַּם כָּל־הָאָדָם - gam kol-hā’ādām) This serves as a transition, linking back to the idea of a good portion from verse 18 but amplifying it to a universal principle for "every person," emphasizing that this wisdom applies to anyone regardless of their status.
• God gives: (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים - asher natan-lo hā’elohîm) Explicitly points to God as the source, highlighting divine sovereignty. It's not about human ingenuity or hard work alone, but divine bestowment. This emphasizes that what is possessed is not earned in its totality, but granted.
• wealth and possessions: (עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים - osher u-nekhāsîm)
  • Osher (עֹשֶׁר): Refers to general riches, prosperity, or abundance.
  • Nekhasim (וּנְכָסִים): Refers to specific material possessions, goods, property, or valuable assets. The combination covers the full spectrum of financial and material abundance. These are neutral in themselves; their benefit depends on divine enabling.
• and enables them to enjoy them / and hath given him power to eat thereof: (וּמַשְׁלִיטוֹ לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ - u-mashliṭō le’ekhōl mimmennû) This is a crucial phrase.
  • Mashliṭō (מַשְׁלִיטוֹ): Means "gives him dominion, power, authority over it." It implies not just ownership but the capacity, health, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety to actually use and benefit from these possessions.
  • le’ekhōl mimmennû (לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ): Literally "to eat from it." In Hebrew idiom, "eating" often signifies enjoying the fruit of something, deriving benefit or pleasure from it. This signifies the active enjoyment and utilization of the wealth and possessions. This capacity is divinely granted, differentiating those who possess from those who genuinely enjoy.
• to accept their lot / to take his portion: (וְלָקַחַת אֶת־חֶלְקוֹ - ve-lāqaḥat et-ḥelqō)
  • Laqaḥat (לָקַחַת): "to take, accept." Implies active reception and appreciation.
  • Ḥelqō (חֶלְקוֹ): "his portion, share, lot, inheritance." Refers to one's appointed circumstances or possessions in life. It's about finding contentment and acknowledging divine apportionment rather than constantly striving for more. It connotes an acceptance of one's given place and resources, as opposed to envy or discontent.
• and be joyful in their toil / and to rejoice in his labour: (וְלִשְׂמֹחַ בַּעֲמָלוֹ - ve-liśmōaḥ ba-amalō)
  • Liśmōaḥ (לִשְׂמֹחַ): "to rejoice, be glad, be joyful." This is a deep sense of happiness.
  • Ba-amalō (בַּעֲמָלוֹ): "in his toil, labor, effort." Work under the sun can be frustrating and wearisome (a key theme of Ecclesiastes). To find joy in it, rather than just endure it, is presented as an exceptional and supernatural blessing. It counters the futility described earlier (e.g., Eccl 2:18-23).
• this is a gift of God: (זֹה מַתַּת אֱלֹהִים הִיא - zōh matat ʾelohim hî)
  • Zōh (זֹה): "this." Refers to the entire package of receiving wealth, enjoying it, accepting one's lot, and finding joy in one's labor.
  • Matat (מַתַּת): "gift, present, donation." It signifies something freely bestowed without merit, rooted in grace. This statement elevates this particular human experience from mere worldly success or happenstance to a divine act of benevolence. It removes any claim of self-sufficiency or pure human achievement, attributing the entire benevolent experience to God's hand.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy them": This phrase directly links the ultimate source of both material blessing and the ability to derive pleasure from it to God. It differentiates simple acquisition from divine enablement for enjoyment, addressing the common experience of those who have much but can never truly be satisfied (as lamented elsewhere in Ecclesiastes).
• "to accept their lot and be joyful in their toil": This grouping describes the proper human response and disposition—contentment and joy in work—that, paradoxically, is also a divinely given capacity. It counters covetousness and weariness, promoting satisfaction with God's provision and finding meaning in everyday labor. This acceptance is not passive resignation, but active, joyful reception of one's circumstances.
• "this is a gift of God": This powerful concluding phrase summarizes the preceding conditions and their accompanying state of heart. It transforms what might appear as ordinary blessings into clear evidences of God's direct, gracious involvement in human life, emphasizing that genuine contentment and satisfaction in life's good things are not merely psychological states but manifestations of divine grace.

Ecclesiastes 5 19 Bonus section

This verse offers a key theological insight within Ecclesiastes: God is not merely an observer but an active benefactor in human experience, even amidst life's inherent "hebel" (vanity/futility). While the book often laments the meaninglessness of much human striving, verses like this one (and 2:24, 3:12-13, 9:7) represent divine punctuations, reminding the reader that even in a fleeting existence, specific blessings—when truly received and enjoyed with a contented heart—are undeniable evidences of God's goodness and sovereignty. It implies a counter-cultural perspective, suggesting that contentment and joy are less about what one possesses and more about the divinely gifted capacity to appreciate it. This provides a balance, acknowledging life's challenges but revealing pockets of profound divine blessing that offer purpose and solace.

Ecclesiastes 5 19 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:19 provides one of the pivotal positive affirmations in a book largely marked by cynicism regarding human endeavors "under the sun." It argues against the futility of wealth accumulation by positing that its true value lies not in its mere possession, but in the divine capacity to genuinely enjoy it. Without God's enablement, riches can lead to anxiety, fear, and dissatisfaction, as highlighted in previous verses (e.g., 5:13-17). The Preacher emphasizes that it is God who bestows not only the wealth but also the health, peace of mind, and freedom from avarice that allows for its enjoyment. This includes the ability to embrace one's appointed portion in life, whatever it may be, and to find satisfaction and joy even in the hard work that produces one's sustenance. This contentment and joyful toil are portrayed as supernatural graces, liberating individuals from the endless, unsatisfying chase for more. The ultimate meaning of this verse is that genuine, lasting joy in the material aspects of life is not a human achievement but a divine endowment, shifting focus from material gain to the gracious Giver.

Examples for practical usage:

• A person receiving a promotion acknowledges that their abilities and the opportunity itself were gifts from God, allowing them to truly enjoy their increased responsibilities and income without pride or greed.
• A craftsman takes deep satisfaction and joy in his labor, recognizing that the skill and the means to apply it daily are blessings from God, allowing him to accept his daily "lot" and rejoice in the fruits of his hands.
• An individual facing modest means but blessed with a cheerful disposition and gratitude, truly enjoys the simple provisions God has given them, living out the contentment enabled by divine grace.