Ecclesiastes 5:16
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Ecclesiastes 5:16
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Chapter Context
Ecclesiastes 5 is a philosophical reflection chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of mercy, sacrifice, redemption. Written during likely Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Royal wisdom reflections paralleled other ancient Near Eastern philosophical works.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Ecclesiastes and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Ecclesiastes 5:16
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Analysis
And this also is a sore evil (וְגַם־זֹה רָעָה חוֹלָה, vegam-zoh ra'ah cholah)—repeating verse 13's phrase, 'a grievous evil.' That in all points as he came, so shall he go (כָּל־עֻמַּת שֶׁבָּא כֵּן יֵלֵךְ, kol-ummat shebba ken yelekh)—'exactly corresponding to how he came, thus he goes,' emphasizing precise symmetry of arrival and departure. And what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? (וּמַה־יִּתְרוֹן לוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹל לָרוּחַ, umah-yitron lo sheya'amol laruach)—employing yitron, the book's signature term for 'profit' or 'gain.'
The 'sore evil' is the absurdity itself: entrance equals exit, making intervening accumulation meaningless from eternity's perspective. The phrase 'laboured for the wind' (ya'amol laruach) is bitterly poetic—one cannot grasp wind, store wind, or profit from wind; it's the ultimate symbol of futility. Hosea used similar imagery: 'They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind' (Hosea 8:7). Yet Ecclesiastes' answer isn't nihilism but redirected ambition: labor for what endures. 'Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life' (John 6:27).
Historical Context
The question 'What profit?' resonates throughout Israelite wisdom literature, constantly testing endeavors against ultimate value. This pragmatic theology insisted actions bear fruit—but fruit measured by eternal standards, not mere temporal accumulation.
Reflection
- What activities in your life might qualify as 'laboring for the wind'—expending energy with no eternal return?
- How can you redirect efforts from accumulation that dies with you toward investments that follow you into eternity?
- In what ways does recognizing life's symmetry (naked to naked) bring both humility and liberation?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 1:3, Proverbs 11:29