Ecclesiastes 2:22
in Ecclesiastes 2For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
KJV
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
⋯
This verse in Ecclesiastes 2
Commentary
8 notes on this verseWhat has he to himself and to his own use? What has he that will go with him into another world? The best use which is therefore to be made of the wealth of this world, and that is to use it cheerfully, to take the comfort of it, and do good with it.
This site's exposition
For what does a man get for all the toil
on Ecclesiastes 2:22-23
The Teacher totals the account, asking what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun. The answer is the cost: all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful, and at night, his mind does not rest.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"So I turned my heart to despair of all that I had achieved by toiling under the sun. For there is a man who laboured with wisdom, knowledge and skill, yet he must hand on his portion to one who has not toiled for it. This too is vanity and a great evil. For what has a man in return for all his toil and his stress, which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are painful, and his business is a vexation; even at night his mind has no rest. This, too, is vanity!"
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"What does it profit a man of all his labor," in body, "and affliction of spirit," in mind, "by which he is tormented under the sun?" As if to say: nothing; whence Proverbs 23: "Labor not to become rich, but set bounds to your prudence." …
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Prooemium · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The world is vain also because it does not give rest to the one who labors, and therefore he who labors for worldly things labors in vain: Ecclesiastes 2: What does it profit a man from all his labor, by which he labors under the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
); it is to most a force upon themselves, so natural is it to us to love our ease. A man of business is described to be uneasy both in his going out and his coming in,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart?.... What profit has he by it, when there is so much vexation in it, both in getting it, and in the thought of leaving it to others? What advantage is it to him, when it is all acquired for and possessed by another; and especially of what use is it to him after his death?
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For what hath man of all his laborer - Labour of body, disappointment of hope, and vexation of heart, have been all my portion.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֠י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מֶֽה־ | meh- | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| הֹוֶ֤ה | hoveh | [is] becoming | H1933 → | |
| לָֽאָדָם֙ | laadam | to the person | H120 → | 551 times |
| בְּכָל־ | bekhol | in all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| עֲמָל֔וֹ | amalo | toil his | H5999 → | 55 times |
| וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן | uvera'yon | and in [the] striving of | H7475 → | 3 times |
| לִבּ֑וֹ | libo | heart his | H3820 → | 595 times |
| שֶׁה֥וּא | shehu' | that he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| עָמֵ֖ל | ʾamel | [was] a laborer | H6001 → | 9 times |
| תַּ֥חַת | tachat | under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ | hashamesh | the sun | H8121 → | 134 times |
כִּ֠יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
מֶֽה־what?
meh-H4100 →752 times
הֹוֶ֤ה[is] becoming
hovehH1933 →
לָֽאָדָם֙to the person
laadamH120 →551 times
בְּכָל־in all
bekholH3605 →5413 times
עֲמָל֔וֹtoil his
amaloH5999 →55 times
וּבְרַעְי֖וֹןand in [the] striving of
uvera'yonH7475 →3 times
לִבּ֑וֹheart his
liboH3820 →595 times
שֶׁה֥וּאthat he
shehu'H1931 →1879 times
עָמֵ֖ל[was] a laborer
ʾamelH6001 →9 times
תַּ֥חַתunder
tachatH8478 →505 times
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃the sun
hashameshH8121 →134 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:25–33
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
- Psalms 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18
Pray without ceasing.
- Matthew 6:25–33
Through
Psalms 127:2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.
- Psalms 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
- Job 11:18
You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
- Ecclesiastes 5:12
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Prooemium; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.