He famisheth at a full feast, he starveth at a fireside. Boredom is more than an irritation in child-raising. But it was remarked likewise, that this is the gift of God, and is not in any man's power, except it be given him from above. 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. 9 . One ought not to envy him his riches. Ecclesiastes 6 Ecc 6:1 Ecc 6 is a continuation of the theme of the vanity of the present. stranger—those not akin, nay, even hostile to him (Jer 51:51; La 5:2; Ho 7:9). But in order to get the significance of that verse and the section it’s in, we need to back up just a little. With advice given to the young ( 11:9-12:7 ), Ecclesiastes then draws to a close - 12:8-14 2. That observation, on the other hand, is strongly confirmed by the instance of the unhappy rich man; viz. Ecclesiastes 6:2 (ASV) a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. God giveth him not power to eat—This distinguishes him from the "rich" man in Ec 5:19. Ecclesiastes 6:1-2. Pray we, therefore, that God would together with riches, "give us all things richly to enjoy." "indicates that in no instance is the acquisition of wealth merely an outright achievement of man. And since wealth is relative (you can always find someone who has more than you do-and less), these truths apply to all of us. Man can acquire nothing less God permits him to have it" (Leupold p. 134). Either give me the key, saith one, or take away the lock. that every thing in this world, when considered in itself, is vain, and rather fit to torment men's minds, than to give them any real satisfaction, chap. 5:19). Now Solomon adds a further observation, which had been already hinted at, chap. 1. And he may well lose it through no fault of his own: perhaps when war, or sickness, or injustice spills everything into another"s lap….One could have the things men dream of….children by the score, and years of life by the thousand-and still depart unnoticed, unlamented, and unfulfilled" (Kidner p. 59). John Trapp Complete Commentary. However, His activity is exactly opposite to traditional wisdom (cf. The case is not rare of one successful in making great accumulations, who still, from some dyspeptic weakness of body, or some morbid penurious narrowness of mind, cannot bless his soul by indulgence in his copious stores. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Ecclesiastes 6:3, NIV: "A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 3:22.) Thus he might have been happier and less uneasy without riches, than he is with them; chap. But at this point many may protest that life is not by any means as black as this for most people. Events outside this man"s control, of which there are many in life (Ecc. This is fruitless and a grave misfortune. this is vanity, and it is an evil disease; it is a vain thing to be possessed of great substance, and not enjoy anything of it in a comfortable way, through the sin of covetousness; which is a spiritual disease, and a very bad one; very prejudicial to the soul, and the state of it, and is rarely cured. that possession and fruition are so far from being necessarily linked together, that the Supreme Dispenser of all things, as experience testifies, often grants the one without granting the other. So, the person who asked this question is asking, What does this mean? — Grammar requires us to supply the word. To eat — Because God gives him up to a base and covetous mind. Ecclesiastes 6:2 New International Version (NIV) 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. 2 Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone. There are many "middle class" individuals who are unable to enjoy the fruits of their labors because they are always wanting more. Boredom is a chronic symptom of a pleasure-obsessed age. Hebrew. Wealth; all sorts of riches, as gold and silver, cattle and lands, &c. Of all that he desireth; which he doth or can reasonably desire. The preceding chapter gave us the case of a man who had a son and nothing to give him — this is of one who has riches, but no son and heir. Evil disease is not a bad rendering — an “evil” utterly out of harmony with nature. But the example of the covetous rich man served as a proof that riches in themselves are not an enviable good. 8 . Clearly this man makes it to the top, he has everything that he has ever materially desired. There are various laws in the spiritual realm and one of those laws is that greed will prevent you from enjoying what you have (5:10-12). God so providing that if one will not, another shall; that if the owner will not eat, but sit piddling or sparing, a stranger, and perhaps an enemy, shall take away. All his wealth goes to strangers. That if men will not serve God with cheerfulness in the abundance of all things, they should fast another while, and be forced to serve their enemies in hunger and thirst and nakedness; and by the want of all be taught the worth of them, carendo quam fruendo [Deuteronomy 28:15-68]. “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.” Without God"s physical blessings, and especially without His mercy, we would have nothing. Eccl. And this is often repeated in this book, because it can never enough be observed and abhorred. This observation, however, is set in a very strong light, by the opposition of the case of another man, to whom God Almighty granted both wealth and enjoyment. 2.A man to whom God hath given riches — Grammar requires us to supply the word, Behold, or, There is, before “a man.”, Honour — This word, seeing it follows the sense of to eat, might better be given as in some other passages, abundance. The Bible in Basic English Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" This is saying that God arranges even the smallest details of our surroundings. may mean: “there is not,” is not to be proved from Genesis 39:9, thus: and he spares not for his soul (lxx καὶ οὐκ κ . How is it possible that that should be a matter for envy which more closely viewed is but a vain show? so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth: he has not only for the supply of his wants, what is necessary for his daily use and service, but even what is for delight and pleasure; yea, as much as he could reasonably wish for; nay, more than heart could wish, Psalm 73:7; yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof; the Targum adds, "because of his sin"; either he takes it away from him, he making no use of it; or his appetite is taken away, that he has no desire to it; or rather he has no heart to enjoy what he has, and scarce any part of it; not to eat and drink, and wear suitably to his circumstances, but grudges whatever he lays out on his back or belly, or in housekeeping in his family; for though God gives him a large substance, yet not a heart to make use of it, without which he cannot enjoy it; and therefore it would have been as good, or better for him, to have been without it; see Ecclesiastes 5:19; but a stranger eateth it; the Syriac version adds, "after him"; enjoys it, not only a part of it, but the whole; one that is not akin to him, and perhaps was never known by him; and yet, by one means or another, either in a lawful or unlawful way, comes into the possession of all he has; this has been always reckoned a great unhappiness, Lamentations 5:2. Job's three friends). Ecclesiastes 6:2. That wealth without enjoyment is nothing but vanity and an evil disease, the author now shows by introducing another historical figure, and thereby showing that life without enjoyment is worse than never to have come into existence at all: 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. The preceding chapter gave us the case of a man who had a son and nothing to give him — this is of one who has riches, but no son and heir. so that he lacks nothing that his heart 1 desires, 2 . The ancient moralists associated boredom with sloth….considering it a form of spiritual laziness, an ungrateful lack of interest in what God has ordained. that the only advantage to be had from earthly acquisitions is present enjoyment. "Yet he is unable to enjoy it" (Mof). App-4. The rich man is the Persian (Ecclesiastes 10:20). He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 1 "The man of verse 2, just because he is outstanding, has more to lose than the plodder who will never arrive. 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. He has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, a VCR, interactive CD-ROM virtual-reality simulators, and a fully loaded computer with Internet access. 6:2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth. τ . Job's three friends). 14. v. 136. exposed by Persius, Sat. A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor. 6. v. 69, &c. "unge puer caules", &c. (a) He shows that it is the plague of God when the rich man does not have a liberal heart to use his riches. Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This encouragement is more valuable than every book they could ever be … "The gods had given thee riches, and the art to enjoy them.". Ecclesiastes 6:2 (Amplified Bible) 6:2 A man to whom God has given riches, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he might desire, yet God does not give him the power or capacity to enjoy them [things which are gifts from God], but a stranger [in whom he has no interest succeeds him and] consumes and enjoys them. However, His activity is exactly opposite to traditional wisdom (cf. And what is the use of riches to one who starves in the midst of plenty, but to torment him? That wealth without enjoyment is nothing but vanity and an evil disease, the author now shows by introducing another historical figure, and thereby showing that life without enjoyment is worse than never to have come into existence at all: 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, A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet. The man in 6:2 is more concerned with having everything he wants, and his God-given status in life allows this. New International Version (NIV) λ ) what he always desires. נכרי is quite generally used of such as belong to another nation and society (Deuteronomy 17:15), and that it is to be taken in this sense here is evident from the correspondence that exists between the words, "a stranger will cat it," of this verse, and those of the 3d verse, "also he will have no grave." Ecclesiastes 6:2 Context. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. JuvenalF23"Cum furor dubius", &c. Satyr. Abraham was sad at having no son, though his heir would be his tried and good servant Eliezer. Herein he is like a stag that hath great horns, but no courage to use them; or rather like an ass loaded with gold and victuals, but feeding upon thistles. He has it all! It was observed before, (ch. "Di tibi divitias dederunt artemque fruendi." "God has not empowered him to eat from them"-to "eat from them", means "to enjoy them". — This word, seeing it follows the sense of to eat, might better be given as in some other passages, The case is not rare of one successful in, making great accumulations, who still, from some dyspeptic weakness of body, or some morbid penurious narrowness of mind, cannot, by indulgence in his copious stores. Or the idea that we did it all on our own and owe no one for our successes. Ecclesiastes 6 Commentary Summary Meaning Explained We’re starting in Ecclesiastes 6:1 for this Ecclesiastes 6 Commentary. God enables us to prosper (Matthew ; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:15-17; 17:25 "since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things"). Or, this man"s attitude towards his possessions may keep him from enjoying them. Juvenal (w) calls it frenzy and madness for a man to live poor, that be may die rich; he is like the ass that Crassus Agelastus saw, loaded with figs, and eating thorns. stranger — those not akin, nay, even hostile to him (Jeremiah 51:51; Lamentations 5:2; Hosea 7:9). Ecclesiastes 2:24 but not fully explained; viz. The stranger is the successor of the Persian in the dominion of the world. Let’s read Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give … --- The proper use of riches is rare. Ecclesiastes 6:2 tells us God has given wealth and no power to enjoy it — a stranger enjoys it. An evil disease - as fatal to happiness of the soul as a severe sickness is to the ease of the body (Deuteronomy 28:59). all of it; devoureth it all in an instant. "to say that God does not empower the rich man to enjoy what he has accumulated is stating that the rich man cannot divorce himself from the power of his wealth…God has ordained personal fulfillment and joy are found only within the confines which He has established" (Kidwell p. 139). “God hath given” distinguishes him also from the man who got his wealth by “oppression” (Ecclesiastes 5:8, Ecclesiastes 5:10). He seems to have it in his "power" to do as he will with his wealth, but an unseen power gives him up to his own avarice. What follows we do not translate: “and there is nothing wanting ... ;” for that איננּוּ with the pleonastic suff. (1-2) Others can take one’s wealth. The Meaning of Life in Ecclesiastes: Coherence, Purpose, and Significance from a Psychological Perspective* Arthur Keefer Eton College; email: arthurkeefer@gmail.com Abstract Attending to ongoing debates about the “meaning of life” in Ecclesiastes, this article determines how Qoheleth addressed meaningfulness by drawing on a threefold scheme of definitions for life’s meaning. 1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue. Possession and fruition are not necessarily joined together; and this is also among the vanities of life. So that he wanteth nothing. לנפשׁו, “for his soul,” i.e., his person, is = the synon. It is better to go to the house of mourning.] in the sense of wanting, lacking, as at 1 Samuel 21:1-15 :16; 1 Kings 11:22; Proverbs 12:9. Ecclesiasticus 6:2 Context. "for a foreigner enjoys them"-the word foreigner or stranger can refer to someone other than this man"s heir, and simply another person, someone other than oneself. There were of course rich spendthrifts among the Persians also. any considerable part of it; whereas the stranger eateth not thereof, but it, i.e. Ecc 6:2 - God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. Yet God giveth him not power to eat - through the avarice which enthrals him. Yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof,] i.e., He withholdeth his grace from him, that he cannot use it to his comfort. "A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of … Ecclesiastes 6:2. He does not dare to enjoy his wealth, and the enemy will soon take it away from him. For with all these things, what is the end result but death? There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. Riches do not make people happy. American King James Version ×). Hence it follows. God. The נכרי, to whom this considerable estate, satisfying every wish, finally comes, is certainly not the legal heir (for that he enters into possession, in spite of the uncertainty of his moral character, Ecclesiastes 2:19, would be in itself nothing less than a misfortune, yet perfectly in order, Ecclesiastes 5:13 [14]), but some stranger without any just claim, not directly a foreigner (Heiligst. "God has not empowered him to eat from them", "The man of verse 2, just because he is outstanding, has more to lose than the plodder who will never arrive. God's timetable for this earth is perfect. This is vanity and a severe affliction. He seems to have it in his "power" to do as he will with his wealth, but an unseen power gives him up to his own avarice: God wills that he should toil for "a stranger" (Ec 2:26), who has found favor in God's sight. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. (w) "Cum furor dubius", &c. Satyr. So much for the idea of the self-made man or millionaire. See also 1 Timothy 6:17; Proverbs 30:8; 1 Samuel 2:7. The book of Ecclesiastes was given to teach us the meaning of life, which is to fear the Lord and to obey his word. This distinguishes him from the "rich" man in Ecclesiastes 5:19. This man, indeed, has no cause to complain, or to reckon his days as if they were burdensome to him; but as he is indebted to God's liberality, and not to his own labour and industry, for the ease and happiness that he enjoys, his case is no objection to the general observation laid down in the present proposition. But, it seems to me often it is for those outside of Christ. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. (with Art.) 6:2 "God has given" This refers to the sovereignty of God in human life and daily affairs (cf. "whom God has given"-A thought that should humble us. It has been called a major spiritual problem, one that is particularly characteristic of our time. Ecclesiastes 6:2 KJ21 a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth and honor, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not the power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it. Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. = the [true] God, or the Deity. We live in the most prosperous country of all time, and yet look how many people are depressed, lonely, and isolated. "honor"-prestige, fame, a high standing in the community, community awards, praise from one"s fellow man, citizen of the year, the noble peace prize, and so on. "so that his soul lacks nothing"-"Soul" here doesn"t mean his spiritual side, but rather, himself (Luke ). (2) Riches, wealth, and honour.—The three words are used together regarding Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:11). (Worthington), "a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, but God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. The Greeks describe a good householder to be κτητικον, φυλακτικον, κοσμητικον των υπαρχοντων, και χρηστικον, a good husband, as in getting, keeping and setting out what he hath to the best, so in making good use of it, for his own and others’ behoof and benefit. These are not the basic realities of life, and true success and accomplishment cannot be measured by them. A man to whom God hath given riches - A man may possess much earthly goods, and yet enjoy nothing of them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.". Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. (Horace, i. Ep. But the ancients do not seem to have been as bored as we are. All his wealth goes to strangers. "This rich man never got beyond the painful process of acquisition" (Leupold p. 135). 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. Boredom is often the motivation for adultery and divorce, abuse of alcohol or drugs, and even suicide. 2. Ver. Ecclesiastes 6:2, ESV: "a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. But a stranger eats it.] is not a bad rendering — an “evil” utterly out of harmony with nature. ""I"m bored." God giveth him not power to eat — This distinguishes him from the “rich” man in Ecclesiastes 5:19. References cautiously made to the impending catastrophe of the Persian empire may be found also elsewhere: see Ecclesiastes 11:1-3; Ecclesiastes 9:18. To fulfill it honour.—The three words are used together regarding Solomon ( 2 Chronicles ). Multitudinous family, mean nothing of them. `` ( cf his soul - i: e., for soul... Nothing for his enjoyment true ] God, or the idea that we it... By any means as black as this for most people references cautiously made to the sovereignty of God in life! 6:2 `` God has ordained the sovereignty of God in human life and daily affairs cf. 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