Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
Original Language Analysis
יֵ֚שׁ
There is
H3426
יֵ֚שׁ
There is
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
1 of 10
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
חוֹלָ֔ה
a sore
H2470
חוֹלָ֔ה
a sore
Strong's:
H2470
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to stroke (in flattering), entreat
רָאִ֖יתִי
which I have seen
H7200
רָאִ֖יתִי
which I have seen
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
4 of 10
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
תַּ֣חַת
H8478
תַּ֣חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
5 of 10
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
under the sun
H8121
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
under the sun
Strong's:
H8121
Word #:
6 of 10
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement
שָׁמ֥וּר
kept
H8104
שָׁמ֥וּר
kept
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
Cross References
Genesis 19:14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.Proverbs 11:4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.Proverbs 1:32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.Proverbs 1:19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.Ecclesiastes 4:8There 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.Ecclesiastes 8:9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.Genesis 14:16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.Luke 16:19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:Zephaniah 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Historical Context
The ancient world lacked banks and secure investment vehicles, making wealth storage physically dangerous (theft, decay). Yet the principle transcends era—hoarded resources, whether gold or stock portfolios, can become spiritual poison.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways might your wealth or possessions be harming rather than helping you spiritually?
- How does the act of hoarding itself damage character and relationships beyond the material risks?
- What would it look like to transition from guarding wealth to stewarding it for Kingdom purposes?
Analysis & Commentary
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun (יֵשׁ רָעָה חוֹלָה רָאִיתִי תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ, yesh ra'ah cholah ra'iti tachat hashemesh)—'a grievous evil I have observed.' The term cholah means 'sick' or 'diseased,' intensifying ra'ah (evil). Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt (עֹשֶׁר שָׁמוּר לִבְעָלָיו לְרָעָתוֹ, osher shamur liv'alav lera'ato)—wealth guarded/hoarded for its owner unto his harm.
Qoheleth identifies a tragic paradox: wealth accumulated for security becomes the source of ruin. The verb shamur ('kept' or 'guarded') suggests anxious preservation rather than generous circulation. This 'hurt' (ra'ato) can manifest physically (stress, obsession), relationally (isolation, distrust), legally (lawsuits, theft), or spiritually (idolatry of mammon). Jesus's parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) perfectly illustrates this—the man hoarded for future security, only to lose his soul that very night. Paul warns that 'those who desire to be rich fall into temptation' (1 Timothy 6:9). Wealth hoarded becomes a curse; wealth stewarded becomes blessing.