Ecclesiastes 6:2
A 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.
Original Language Analysis
אִ֥ישׁ
A man
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
A man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
1 of 28
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִתֶּן
hath given
H5414
יִתֶּן
hath given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
3 of 28
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
to whom God
H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
to whom God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 28
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
וְכָב֜וֹד
and honour
H3519
וְכָב֜וֹד
and honour
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
8 of 28
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
וְֽאֵינֶ֨נּוּ
H369
לְנַפְשׁ֣וֹ׀
nothing for his soul
H5315
לְנַפְשׁ֣וֹ׀
nothing for his soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
11 of 28
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מִכֹּ֣ל
H3605
מִכֹּ֣ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤נּוּ
giveth him not power
H7980
יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤נּוּ
giveth him not power
Strong's:
H7980
Word #:
16 of 28
to dominate, i.e., govern; by implication, to permit
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
to whom God
H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
to whom God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 28
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
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ
H4480
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
19 of 28
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
20 of 28
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִ֥ישׁ
A man
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
A man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
21 of 28
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
נָכְרִ֖י
H5237
נָכְרִ֖י
Strong's:
H5237
Word #:
22 of 28
strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful)
הֶ֛בֶל
it this is vanity
H1892
הֶ֛בֶל
it this is vanity
Strong's:
H1892
Word #:
25 of 28
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 5:19Every 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.Psalms 17:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.Psalms 73:7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.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.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.Lamentations 5:2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Historical Context
Ancient inheritance laws normally ensured wealth passed to biological heirs (Numbers 27:8-11), making inheritance by 'strangers' particularly tragic—suggesting death without heirs, confiscation, or family disaster. Solomon himself experienced this: despite his wealth, much of his kingdom went to Jeroboam and the divided kingdom after his son Rehoboam's foolishness (1 Kings 12). The observation that God controls both giving wealth and granting capacity to enjoy it reflects covenant theology: all blessings flow from God's sovereign hand, and material prosperity without His favor proves empty (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). This principle recurs throughout Scripture: rich fools die suddenly (Luke 12:20), wealth gained wrongly brings no joy (Proverbs 13:11), and treasure must be enjoyed with God's blessing (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
Questions for Reflection
- Have you experienced or observed situations where someone possessed material abundance yet lacked capacity to enjoy it due to health, circumstances, or spiritual emptiness?
- How does recognizing that God sovereignly grants both wealth and the ability to enjoy it reshape your prayer life and expectations?
Analysis & Commentary
A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour—the triple blessing (עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים וְכָבוֹד, osher u-nekhasim ve-khavod) represents comprehensive material prosperity: riches (osher, abundance), wealth (nekhasim, possessions/property), and honor (khavod, glory/reputation). So that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth—complete material satisfaction with no unmet external needs. Yet—devastating turn—God giveth him not power to eat thereof (וְלֹא־יַשְׁלִיטֶנּוּ הָאֱלֹהִים לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ, velo-yashlitenu ha'elohim le'ekhol mimenu). The verb shalat means 'to give power/authority/capacity.' God grants the wealth but withholds the ability to enjoy it.
But a stranger eateth it—someone outside the family inherits and consumes what the man accumulated. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease (חֳלִי רָע, choli ra)—literally 'a sore/painful affliction.' This scenario depicts wealth's peculiar torment: possessing everything yet enjoying nothing, working for strangers' benefit rather than your own satisfaction.