Ecclesiastes 5:11

Verse

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

American Standard Version (1901)

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?

Bible in Basic English

When goods are increased, the number of those who take of them is increased; and what profit has the owner but to see them?

Free Bible Version

The more you earn, the more you have eating into your income. It only looks like you have more!

King James (Authorized) Version

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

Translation for Translators

The more money that we have, the more people want us to spend our money to buy things for them. So people who have a lot of money do not [RHQ] benefit from it; they see [MTY] it when they get it, but it soon ◄disappears/is completely spent►.

Unlocked Literal Bible

As prosperity increases, so also do the people who consume it. What advantage in wealth is there to the owner except to watch it with his eyes?

Noah Webster Bible

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners of them, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

World English Bible

When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

Young's Literal Translation

In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit [is] to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

Context

The Futility of Wealth

¹⁰He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.¹¹When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Summary

This verse warns against the pursuit of wealth and material possessions as a source of ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment in life. It highlights the fleeting nature of riches, pointing out that they can easily slip away, leaving the individual with nothing to show for their efforts. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes emphasizes the importance of contentment and gratitude for what one has, rather than constantly striving for more wealth which can lead to anxiety and disappointment. Ultimately, the verse encourages a shift in focus towards spiritual values and eternal treasures that bring lasting joy and peace.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

"When property and goods increase, they become many who consume them; and what advantage hath the owner thereof but the sight of them with his eyes?" The verb רבה signifies to increase, the רבב, to be many; but also (which Bttch. denies) inchoatively: to become many, Gen 6:1; rightly, the lxx, ἐπληθύνθησαν. The author has not a miser in view, who shuts up his money in chests, and only feeds himself in looking at it with closed doors; but a covetous man, of the sort spoken of in Psa 49:12; Isa 5:8. If the hattovah, the possession of such an one, increases, in like manner the number of people whom he must maintain increases also, and thus the number of those who eat of it along with him, and at the same time also his disquiet and care, increase; and what advantage, what useful result (vid., regarding Kishron, above, p. 638, and under Ecc 2:21) has the owner of these good things from them but the beholding of them (reith; Kerı̂, reuth; cf. the reverse case, Psa 126:4)? - the possession does not in itself bring happiness, for it is never great enough to satisfy him, but is yet great enough to fill him with great care as to whether he may be able to support the demands of so great a household: the fortune which it brings to him consists finally only in this, that he can look on all he has accumulated with proud self-complacency.

John Gill Bible Commentary

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them,.... When a man's substance increases by trade, or otherwise, very often so it is that his family increases, and he has more mouths to feed, and backs to clothe; or his estate growing larger, if he lives suitably to it, he must keep more servants; and these, as they have but little work to do, are described by their eating, rather than by their working; and besides, such a growing man in the world has more friends and visitors that come about him, and eat with him, as well as the poor, which wait upon him to receive his alms: and if his farms, and his fields, and his flocks, are enlarged, he must have more husbandmen, and labourers, and shepherds to look after them, who all must be maintained. So Pheraulas in Xenophon (h) observes, "that now he was possessed of much, that he neither ate, nor drank, nor slept the sweeter for it; what he got by his plenty was, that he had more committed to his keeping, and more to distribute to others; he had more care and more business, with trouble; for now, says he, many servants require food of me, many drink, many clothing, some need physicians, &c. it must needs be, adds he, that they that possess much must spend much on the gods, on friends, and on guests;'' and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? he can go into his grounds, his fields, and his meadows to behold his flocks and his herds, and can say, all these are mine; he can go into his chambers and open his treasures, and feed his eyes with looking upon his bags of gold and silver, his jewels, and other riches; he can behold a multitude of people at his table, eating at his expense, and more maintained at his cost: and, if a liberal man, it may be a pleasure to him; if otherwise, it will give him pain: and, excepting these, he enjoys no more than food and raiment; and often so it is, that even his very servants have in some things the advantage of him, as follows. The Targum is, "what profit is there to the owner thereof who gathers it, unless he does good with it, that he may see the gift of the reward with his eyes in the world to come?'' Jarchi interprets it after this manner, "when men bring many freewill offerings, the priests are increased that eat them; and what good is to the owner of them, the Lord, but the sight of his eyes, who says, and his will is done?'' (h) Cyropaedia, l. 8. c. 26.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

The Futility of Wealth

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

American Standard Version (1901)

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?

Bible in Basic English

When goods are increased, the number of those who take of them is increased; and what profit has the owner but to see them?

Free Bible Version

The more you earn, the more you have eating into your income. It only looks like you have more!

King James (Authorized) Version

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

As prosperity increases, so also do the people who consume it. What advantage in wealth is there to the owner except to watch it with his eyes?

Noah Webster Bible

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners of them, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

World English Bible

When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

Young's Literal Translation

In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit [is] to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:11

Verse

Context

The Futility of Wealth

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:11

The Futility of Wealth

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary