Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֣ם
H1571
גַּ֣ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
כָּֽל
H3605
כָּֽל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאָדָ֡ם
Every man
H120
הָאָדָ֡ם
Every man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
3 of 21
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָֽתַן
hath given
H5414
נָֽתַן
hath given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
5 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֱלֹהִ֖ים
also to whom God
H430
אֱלֹהִ֖ים
also to whom God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
7 of 21
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ
and hath given him power
H7980
וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ
and hath given him power
Strong's:
H7980
Word #:
10 of 21
to dominate, i.e., govern; by implication, to permit
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
H4480
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְלָשֵׂ֣את
thereof and to take
H5375
וְלָשֵׂ֣את
thereof and to take
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
13 of 21
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ
and to rejoice
H8055
וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ
and to rejoice
Strong's:
H8055
Word #:
16 of 21
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ
in his labour
H5999
בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ
in his labour
Strong's:
H5999
Word #:
17 of 21
toil, i.e., wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind
Cross References
Deuteronomy 8:18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.Ecclesiastes 3:13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.Ecclesiastes 6:2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.2 Chronicles 1:12Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.1 Kings 3:13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Historical Context
This reflects Torah theology where God grants wealth as covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 8:18), yet warns against forgetting Him as the source (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). Solomon's own wealth was explicitly God-given (1 Kings 3:13), yet he failed to maintain proper perspective.
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing wealth as God's gift rather than personal achievement change your relationship to possessions?
- In what ways might you possess 'riches' but lack the 'power to eat thereof'—the capacity for contentment?
- What would it look like to steward whatever wealth you have as 'gift of God' rather than personal achievement or entitlement?
Analysis & Commentary
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth (גַּם כָּל־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים, gam kol-ha'adam asher natan-lo ha'elohim osher unekhasim)—recognizing God as the source of material blessings, not personal achievement. And hath given him power to eat thereof (וְהִשְׁלִיטוֹ לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ, vehishlito le'ekhol mimmennu)—literally 'empowered him to eat from it,' acknowledging that enjoyment capacity itself is divinely granted. This is the gift of God (מַתַּת אֱלֹהִים הִיא, matat elohim hi)—the emphatic conclusion.
Verse 19 nuances verse 18: wealth isn't automatically evil, but only blessing when:
The phrase 'power to eat thereof' is crucial—wealth without the ability to enjoy it is the 'sore evil' of verses 13-17, but wealth received gratefully becomes matat elohim (God's gift). This anticipates James 1:17: 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.' The key difference isn't amount but attitude—stewardship versus ownership, gratitude versus entitlement.