Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Original Language Analysis
יֵ֣שׁ
There is
H3426
יֵ֣שׁ
There is
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
1 of 31
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
וְאֵ֨ין
H369
שֵׁנִ֜י
alone and there is not a second
H8145
שֵׁנִ֜י
alone and there is not a second
Strong's:
H8145
Word #:
4 of 31
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
גַּ֣ם
H1571
גַּ֣ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
5 of 31
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
בֵּ֧ן
yea he hath neither child
H1121
בֵּ֧ן
yea he hath neither child
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 31
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וָאָ֣ח
nor brother
H251
וָאָ֣ח
nor brother
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
7 of 31
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
וְאֵ֥ין
H369
קֵץ֙
yet is there no end
H7093
קֵץ֙
yet is there no end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
11 of 31
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
לְכָל
H3605
לְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֲמָל֔וֹ
of all his labour
H5999
עֲמָל֔וֹ
of all his labour
Strong's:
H5999
Word #:
13 of 31
toil, i.e., wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
14 of 31
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
עֵינ֖יוֹ
neither is his eye
H5869
עֵינ֖יוֹ
neither is his eye
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
15 of 31
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 31
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׂבַּ֣ע
satisfied
H7646
תִשְׂבַּ֣ע
satisfied
Strong's:
H7646
Word #:
17 of 31
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
וּלְמִ֣י׀
H4310
וּלְמִ֣י׀
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
19 of 31
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
עָמֵ֗ל
neither saith he For whom do I labour
H6001
עָמֵ֗ל
neither saith he For whom do I labour
Strong's:
H6001
Word #:
21 of 31
toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר
and bereave
H2637
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר
and bereave
Strong's:
H2637
Word #:
22 of 31
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
23 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נַפְשִׁי֙
my soul
H5315
נַפְשִׁי֙
my soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
24 of 31
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מִטּוֹבָ֔ה
of good
H2896
מִטּוֹבָ֔ה
of good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
25 of 31
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
26 of 31
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הֶ֛בֶל
This is also vanity
H1892
הֶ֛בֶל
This is also vanity
Strong's:
H1892
Word #:
28 of 31
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
וְעִנְיַ֥ן
travail
H6045
וְעִנְיַ֥ן
travail
Strong's:
H6045
Word #:
29 of 31
ado, i.e., (generally) employment or (specifically) an affair
Cross References
1 John 2:16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.Proverbs 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.Luke 12:20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?Ecclesiastes 1:8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.Ecclesiastes 1:13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Isaiah 5:8Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!Psalms 39:6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.Ecclesiastes 5:10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.Genesis 2:18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern societies valued family continuity—sons inherited property, carried on the name, provided for parents in old age. Dying childless represented profound tragedy (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Yet some pursued wealth so obsessively that relationships withered. The isolated miser appeared in ancient literature as a cautionary figure—Egyptian instructions warned against hoarding at relationships' expense. Greco-Roman philosophy (Epicurus, Stoics) discussed the folly of accumulation without enjoyment. However, Ecclesiastes adds theological depth: humans are made for community (Genesis 2:18), and isolated accumulation violates created purpose. Monastic movements sometimes erred toward isolation, but Reformed theology emphasized vocation within community—work serves others and glorifies God.
Questions for Reflection
- What pursuits are you engaging that might be 'bereaving your soul of good'—sacrificing present relationships and joy for future accumulation?
- If you asked yourself honestly, 'For whom do I labour?'—what answer would emerge, and does it align with eternal priorities?
Analysis & Commentary
There is one alone, and there is not a second—isolation defined: echad (אֶחָד, one) with ein sheni (אֵין שֵׁנִי, no companion). Yea, he hath neither child nor brother—no family connections or heirs. Yet there is no end of all his labour—ein ketz le-khol amalo (אֵין קֵץ לְכָל־עֲמָלוֹ), endless toil accumulating wealth with no one to share or inherit it.
Neither is his eye satisfied with riches—gam-eino lo-tisba osher (גַּם־עֵינוֹ לֹא־תִשְׂבַּע עֹשֶׁר), insatiable greed drives perpetual labor. The climactic question: For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This person never asks the obvious question until too late. Working endlessly, accumulating compulsively, denying present enjoyment, all for no one—This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail (hevel hu ve-inyan ra hu, הֶבֶל הוּא וְעִנְיָן רָע הוּא).
The passage diagnoses workaholism and compulsive accumulation's futility. Without relationships, even great wealth proves worthless. Jesus's parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) echoes this—the man who builds bigger barns dies that night, leaving everything to others. Paul warns against greed as idolatry (Colossians 3:5).