Ecclesiastes 3:9
Ecclesiastes 3:9 in Multiple Translations
What does the worker gain from his toil?
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
What profit has the worker in the work which he does?
So what do you get for all your hard work?
What profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth?
What advantage hath the doer in that which he is labouring at?
What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
What profit hath he that worketh in that in which he laboreth?
What hath man more of his labour?
◄What do people gain from all the work that they do?/It seems that people gain very little from all the work that they do [RHQ]►.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 3:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 3:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
מַה
יִּתְרוֹן֙
הָֽ/עוֹשֶׂ֔ה
בַּ/אֲשֶׁ֖ר
ה֥וּא
עָמֵֽל
מַה
mâh
H4100
what?
Part
יִּתְרוֹן֙
yithrôwn
H3504
advantage
N-ms
הָֽ/עוֹשֶׂ֔ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Art | V-Qal
בַּ/אֲשֶׁ֖ר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Prep | Rel
ה֥וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Pron
עָמֵֽל
ʻâmêl
H6001
labour(er)
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 3:9
מַה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
יִּתְרוֹן֙
yithrôwn
H3504
"advantage"
N-ms
This word means advantage or gain, describing something that is profitable or excellent. It is used to describe preeminence and superiority. In the Bible, it is used to describe the benefits of following God's ways.
Definition: advantage, profit, excellency
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able). See also: Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ecclesiastes 10:11.
הָֽ/עוֹשֶׂ֔ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Art | V-Qal
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
בַּ/אֲשֶׁ֖ר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Prep | Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
ה֥וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
עָמֵֽל
ʻâmêl
H6001
"labour(er)"
Adj
This word describes someone who is laboring or sorrowful, like a worker or a person in misery. It appears in the Bible to describe people who are struggling or suffering.
Definition: 1) labourer, sufferer, wretched one 1a) labourer, workman 1b) sufferer
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman. See also: Judges 5:26; Ecclesiastes 2:18; Proverbs 16:26.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 3:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 3:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 3:9
Context — God’s Works Remain Forever
7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9What does the worker gain from his toil?
10I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 1:3 | What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun? |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 5:16 | This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? |
| 3 | Proverbs 14:23 | There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 2:22–23 | For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 2:11 | Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. |
| 6 | Matthew 16:26 | What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? |
Ecclesiastes 3:9 Summary
Ecclesiastes 3:9 asks a profound question: what do we really get out of all our hard work? It's a question that gets to the heart of what motivates us and what we value. While work is a gift from God (Genesis 2:15) and has value in itself, this verse encourages us to think about what we're ultimately working for, and whether it's just earthly gain or something more eternal (Matthew 6:19-20). By considering this question, we can gain a deeper understanding of what truly brings fulfillment and purpose to our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main idea of Ecclesiastes 3:9?
The main idea of Ecclesiastes 3:9 is to question the ultimate benefit or gain that a worker receives from their labor, which is a theme also explored in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 and Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.
Is the Bible saying that work is meaningless?
While Ecclesiastes 3:9 may seem to imply that work is meaningless, the Bible teaches that work is a gift from God and has value, as seen in Genesis 2:15 and Colossians 3:23-24, but the question is what we ultimately gain from it.
How does this verse relate to the concept of eternity?
This verse is connected to the idea of eternity, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:11, where God has set eternity in the hearts of men, suggesting that our labor is not just for earthly gain, but has eternal implications, as seen in Matthew 6:19-20.
What is the worker's toil referring to in this verse?
The worker's toil in Ecclesiastes 3:9 refers to the daily labor and efforts of individuals to achieve their goals and provide for themselves and their loved ones, as seen in Proverbs 10:4-5 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.
Reflection Questions
- What are some things that I toil for in my daily life, and are they ultimately fulfilling?
- How does my perspective on work and labor change when I consider the concept of eternity?
- In what ways can I find meaning and purpose in my work, even if it seems mundane or unfulfilling at times?
- How can I balance my desire for earthly gain with my desire to store up treasures in heaven, as mentioned in Matthew 6:19-20?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 3:9
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?] That is, he has none.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 3:9
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? What profit hath he that worketh?
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
Seeing then all actions and events in the world are out of man’ s power, and no man can at any time do or enjoy any thing at his pleasure, but only what and when God pleaseth, as hath been now shown in many particulars, and it is as true and certain in all others, hence it follows that all men’ s labours, of themselves, and without God’ s help and blessing, are unprofitable, and utterly insufficient to make them happy.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?Ver. 9. What profit hath he that worketh? &c.] i.e., How can any man, by any means he can use, help or hinder this volubility and vanity that he meets with in every creature? Cui bono? What profit? whereunto this verse relateth, as being a conclusion of the principal argument.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
Verse 9. What profit hath he] What real good, what solid pleasure, is derived from all the labours of man? Necessity drives him to the principal part of his cares and toils; he labours that he may eat and drink; and he eats and drinks that he may be preserved alive, and kept from sickness and pain. Love of money, the basest of all passions, and restless ambition, drive men to many labours and expedients, which perplex and often destroy them. He, then, who lives without God, travails in pain all his days.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 3:9
9. What profit hath he that worketh?] The long induction is completed, and yet is followed by the same despairing question as that of ch. Ecclesiastes 1:3, asked as from a stand-point that commands a wider horizon. Does not this very thought of a right season for every action increase the difficulty of acting? Who can be sure that he has found the season? The chances of failure are greater than the chances of success.
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9
9. What profit — Sometimes a question is a method of declaring the opposite. Thus, he who laboureth hath no advantage, that is, no abiding advantage; for what he gains must be lost in the inevitable course of events.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 3:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Under the Sun by Billy Sunday | Billy Sunday explores the profound question posed by King Solomon in Ecclesiastes, 'What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?' He emphasizes that Solom |
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(Dangers in the Way Series): Dangers of Idleness and Busyness by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the dangers that Christians may encounter on their spiritual journey. The speaker emphasizes the importance of walking circumspectly and not b |
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27 - Ministry Plans for Work Camp Schools by Ben Torrey | The sermon transcript discusses the daily work and activities at the 3C's ranch, where participants engage in various tasks such as weeding, cleaning, and preparing pastures. The w |
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Idleness Is the Enemy of the Soul by St. Benedict of Nursia | St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of staying occupied with both manual labor and sacred reading to combat idleness, which is seen as the enemy of the soul. He provid |
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The Way to Serve God by Jack Hyles | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of finding one's purpose and doing it with passion and dedication. He encourages the audience to identify what their hands sh |
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The Sum and Forecast and Great Conclusion. 11:17-12:14 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the Preacher reflects on the vanity of life under the sun, emphasizing the fleeting nature of earthly pursuits and the ultimate conclusion that all i |
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Standing in Slippery Places by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead's sermon 'Standing in Slippery Places' emphasizes the precarious state of the wicked who seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. He draws from Psalm 73, illustra |