Ecclesiastes 5:17
All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֥ם
H1571
גַּ֥ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָמָ֖יו
All his days
H3117
יָמָ֖יו
All his days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 9
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in darkness
H2822
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
4 of 9
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וְכָעַ֥ס
sorrow
H3707
וְכָעַ֥ס
sorrow
Strong's:
H3707
Word #:
6 of 9
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
Historical Context
Wealthy ancient Near Eastern figures often lived paradoxically miserable lives despite material abundance—constantly threatened by rivals, burdened by responsibilities, isolated by suspicion. Kings like Saul exemplified 'darkness' despite throne and crown.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'darkness' in your life might be self-imposed through wrong priorities rather than actual circumstances?
- How does the pursuit of security through wealth actually produce the insecurity, anger, and illness described here?
- What would it require to move from 'eating in darkness' to the joy described in the next verse?
Analysis & Commentary
All his days also he eateth in darkness (גַּם כָּל־יָמָיו בַּחֹשֶׁךְ יֹאכֵל, gam kol-yamav bachoshekh yokhel)—literally 'all his days in darkness he eats,' suggesting joyless consumption, isolation, or depression. The Hebrew choshekh (darkness) often symbolizes spiritual/emotional gloom, not just physical absence of light. And he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness (וְכָעַס הַרְבֵּה וְחָלְיוֹ וָקָצֶף, vekha'as harbeh vecholyo vaqatsef)—abundant vexation, his illness, and anger.
This verse paints the psychological portrait of the wealth-hoarder from verses 13-16: his entire existence becomes shadowed by worry, marked by joyless eating (contrast verse 18's enjoyment), multiplied grief (ka'as harbeh, 'much vexation'), physical illness (cholyo), and rage (qatsef). Darkness here represents the spiritual state of one whose life centers on perishing riches—he eats but cannot taste, possesses but cannot enjoy, lives but finds no light. This is the rich fool syndrome (Luke 12:19-20) lived out over decades. Contrast this with Proverbs 15:15: 'All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast'—disposition matters more than possessions.