Ecclesiastes 5:14

Authorized King James Version

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But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Original Language Analysis

וְאָבַ֛ד perish H6
וְאָבַ֛ד perish
Strong's: H6
Word #: 1 of 10
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
הָעֹ֥שֶׁר But those riches H6239
הָעֹ֥שֶׁר But those riches
Strong's: H6239
Word #: 2 of 10
wealth
הַה֖וּא H1931
הַה֖וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 3 of 10
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
בְּעִנְיַ֣ן travail H6045
בְּעִנְיַ֣ן travail
Strong's: H6045
Word #: 4 of 10
ado, i.e., (generally) employment or (specifically) an affair
רָ֑ע by evil H7451
רָ֑ע by evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 5 of 10
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וְהוֹלִ֣יד and he begetteth H3205
וְהוֹלִ֣יד and he begetteth
Strong's: H3205
Word #: 6 of 10
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
בֵּ֔ן a son H1121
בֵּ֔ן a son
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 7 of 10
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְאֵ֥ין H369
וְאֵ֥ין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 8 of 10
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
בְּיָד֖וֹ in his hand H3027
בְּיָד֖וֹ in his hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 9 of 10
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מְאֽוּמָה׃ and there is nothing H3972
מְאֽוּמָה׃ and there is nothing
Strong's: H3972
Word #: 10 of 10
properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

Analysis & Commentary

But those riches perish by evil travail (וְאָבַד הָעֹשֶׁר הַהוּא בְּעִנְיַן רָע, ve'avad ha'osher hahu be'inyan ra)—'and that wealth was lost through bad business/misfortune.' The noun inyan refers to occupation, affair, or venture—the wealth vanishes through failed enterprise. And he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand (וְהוֹלִיד בֵּן וְאֵין בְּיָדוֹ מְאוּמָה, veholid ben ve'ein beyado me'umah)—he fathers a child, yet has nothing left to provide.

The 'sore evil' (v.13) now plays out concretely: the hoarded wealth disappears through misfortune or bad decisions, leaving the owner unable to fulfill paternal duty of inheritance. The phrase 'nothing in his hand' (ein beyado me'umah) emphasizes complete emptiness—the grasping hand opens to reveal nothing. This illustrates Jesus's teaching: 'Do not lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal' (Matthew 6:19). The father who focused on accumulation for his son's sake finds his singular focus produces the opposite result. True inheritance is training in godliness (Proverbs 22:6), not merely material transfer.

Historical Context

Ancient Israelite culture emphasized generational wealth transfer—fathers were expected to provide inheritances (Proverbs 13:22). The shame of having 'nothing in his hand' for one's son represented profound failure of patriarchal responsibility.

Questions for Reflection