King James Version

What Does Ecclesiastes 5:19 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 5:19 in the King James Version says “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portio... — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Every 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.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 · KJV


Context

17

All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. It is good: Heb. there is a good which is comely, etc all the days: Heb. the number of the days

19

Every 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.

20

For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. For: or, Though he give not much, yet he remembereth, etc


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth (גַּם כָּל־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים, gam kol-ha'adam asher natan-lo ha'elohim osher unekhasim)—recognizing God as the source of material blessings, not personal achievement. And hath given him power to eat thereof (וְהִשְׁלִיטוֹ לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ, vehishlito le'ekhol mimmennu)—literally 'empowered him to eat from it,' acknowledging that enjoyment capacity itself is divinely granted. This is the gift of God (מַתַּת אֱלֹהִים הִיא, matat elohim hi)—the emphatic conclusion.

Verse 19 nuances verse 18: wealth isn't automatically evil, but only blessing when: (1) recognized as God's gift, not personal achievement, (2) enjoyed rather than hoarded, and (3) received with contentment as one's chelqo (portion). The phrase 'power to eat thereof' is crucial—wealth without the ability to enjoy it is the 'sore evil' of verses 13-17, but wealth received gratefully becomes matat elohim (God's gift). This anticipates James 1:17: 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.' The key difference isn't amount but attitude—stewardship versus ownership, gratitude versus entitlement.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This reflects Torah theology where God grants wealth as covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 8:18), yet warns against forgetting Him as the source (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). Solomon's own wealth was explicitly God-given (1 Kings 3:13), yet he failed to maintain proper perspective.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does viewing wealth as God's gift rather than personal achievement change your relationship to possessions?
  2. In what ways might you possess 'riches' but lack the 'power to eat thereof'—the capacity for contentment?
  3. What would it look like to steward whatever wealth you have as 'gift of God' rather than personal achievement or entitlement?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
גַּ֣ם1 of 21
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

כָּֽל2 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָדָ֡ם3 of 21

Every man

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר4 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נָֽתַן5 of 21

hath given

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

ל֣וֹ6 of 21
H0
אֱלֹהִ֖ים7 of 21

also to whom God

H430

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

עֹ֨שֶׁר8 of 21

riches

H6239

wealth

וּנְכָסִ֜ים9 of 21

and wealth

H5233

treasure

וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ10 of 21

and hath given him power

H7980

to dominate, i.e., govern; by implication, to permit

לֶאֱכֹ֤ל11 of 21

to eat

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙12 of 21
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְלָשֵׂ֣את13 of 21

thereof and to take

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֶת14 of 21
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חֶלְק֔וֹ15 of 21

his portion

H2506

properly, smoothness (of the tongue)

וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ16 of 21

and to rejoice

H8055

probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome

בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ17 of 21

in his labour

H5999

toil, i.e., wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind

זֹ֕ה18 of 21

this

H2090

this or that

מַתַּ֥ת19 of 21

is the gift

H4991

a present

אֱלֹהִ֖ים20 of 21

also to whom God

H430

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

הִֽיא׃21 of 21
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ecclesiastes 5:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ecclesiastes 5:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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