Eclesiastés 5:13-17 RVR1960

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

Solomon had shown the vanity of pleasure, gaiety, and fine works, of honour, power, and royal dignity; and there is many a covetous worldling that will agree with him, and speak as slightly as he does of these things; but money, he thinks, is a substantial thing, and if he can but have enough of that he is happy. This is the mistake which Solomon attacks, and attempts to rectify, in these verses; he shows that there is as much vanity in great riches, and the lust of the eye about them, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:13

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun ,.... Or "an evil sickness" F13 רעה חולה "morbus malus", Tigurine version, Vatablus. . A sinful disease in the person with whom it is found, and very disagreeable to others to behold; it is enough to make one sick to see it; and what he is about to relate he himself was an eyewitness of: namely , riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt ; laid up in barns and granaries, as the fruits of the earth; or in chests and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:14

But those riches perish by evil travail ,.... Or, "by an evil business or affair" F14 בענין רע "occupatione, negotio, vel casu malo", Gejerus. . That is, such riches as are not well got, or are not used as they should be, these waste away and come to nothing; either by the owner's bad management, and misconduct in trade and business; or by fire, tempest, thieves, and robbers, and many other ways and means: these are very certain things; and there are various ways by which they make... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came ,.... This may be understood either of the covetous rich man, or of his son; and that supposing what is before said should not be the case of either of them, but they should possess their substance as long as they live; yet, when they come to die, they will be stripped of them all; of their gold and silver, their plate and jewels, and rich household furniture; of their cattle and possessions, farms and estates,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:16

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came , so shall he go ,.... This seems not to be an evil or vanity, distinct from the former; but the same repeated and confirmed, and expressed, if possible, in stronger terms, that a man is in all respects alike, when he goes out of the world, as when he came in. A man's birth is signified by "coming", that is, out of his mother's womb, and into the world; and which is a description of every man born into it, John 1:9 ; he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:17

All his days also he eateth in darkness ,.... To all that has been said is added another evil, that attends such whose hearts are inordinately set on riches; that all their days, throughout the whole of their lives, they live a most uncomfortable life; for eating is here put for their whole manner of living: such not only eat coarse bread, and very mean food of any sort, but wear sordid apparel, and live in a poor cottage, in a very obscure and miserable manner. Aben Ezra understands it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:13

Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt - This may be the case through various causes: He may make an improper use of them, and lose his health by them. He may join in an unfortunate partnership and lose all. His riches may excite the desire of the robber; and he may spoil him of his goods, and even take away his life. 4. Or, he may leave them to his son, who turns profligate; spends the whole, and ruins both his body and soul. I have seen this again and again. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:14

And he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand - He has been stripped of his property by unfortunate trade or by plunderers; and he has nothing to leave to his children. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth - However it may be, he himself shall carry nothing with him into the eternal world. If he die worth millions, those millions are dead to him for ever; so he has had no real profit from all his labors, cares, anxieties, and vast property! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:17

All his days also he eateth in darkness - Even his enjoyments are embittered by uncertainty. He fears for his goods; the possibility of being deprived of them fills his heart with anguish. But instead of יאכל yochel , "he shall eat," ילך yelech , "he shall walk," is the reading of several MSS. He walks in darkness - he has no evidence of salvation. There is no ray of light from God to penetrate the gloom; and all beyond life is darkness impenetrable! And wrath with his sickness - ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:17

Group of Brands