King James Version

What Does Ecclesiastes 6:2 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 6:2 in the King James Version says “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth... — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Ecclesiastes 6:2 · KJV


Context

1

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

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.

3

If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

4

For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour—the triple blessing (עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים וְכָבוֹד, osher u-nekhasim ve-khavod) represents comprehensive material prosperity: riches (osher, abundance), wealth (nekhasim, possessions/property), and honor (khavod, glory/reputation). So that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth—complete material satisfaction with no unmet external needs. Yet—devastating turn—God giveth him not power to eat thereof (וְלֹא־יַשְׁלִיטֶנּוּ הָאֱלֹהִים לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ, velo-yashlitenu ha'elohim le'ekhol mimenu). The verb shalat means 'to give power/authority/capacity.' God grants the wealth but withholds the ability to enjoy it.

But a stranger eateth it—someone outside the family inherits and consumes what the man accumulated. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease (חֳלִי רָע, choli ra)—literally 'a sore/painful affliction.' This scenario depicts wealth's peculiar torment: possessing everything yet enjoying nothing, working for strangers' benefit rather than your own satisfaction.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient inheritance laws normally ensured wealth passed to biological heirs (Numbers 27:8-11), making inheritance by 'strangers' particularly tragic—suggesting death without heirs, confiscation, or family disaster. Solomon himself experienced this: despite his wealth, much of his kingdom went to Jeroboam and the divided kingdom after his son Rehoboam's foolishness (1 Kings 12). The observation that God controls both giving wealth and granting capacity to enjoy it reflects covenant theology: all blessings flow from God's sovereign hand, and material prosperity without His favor proves empty (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). This principle recurs throughout Scripture: rich fools die suddenly (Luke 12:20), wealth gained wrongly brings no joy (Proverbs 13:11), and treasure must be enjoyed with God's blessing (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you experienced or observed situations where someone possessed material abundance yet lacked capacity to enjoy it due to health, circumstances, or spiritual emptiness?
  2. How does recognizing that God sovereignly grants both wealth and the ability to enjoy it reshape your prayer life and expectations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
אִ֥ישׁ1 of 28

A man

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר2 of 28
H834

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

יִתֶּן3 of 28

hath given

H5414

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

ל֣וֹ4 of 28
H0
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙5 of 28

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

עֹשֶׁר֩6 of 28

riches

H6239

wealth

וּנְכָסִ֨ים7 of 28

wealth

H5233

treasure

וְכָב֜וֹד8 of 28

and honour

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

וְֽאֵינֶ֨נּוּ9 of 28
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

חָסֵ֥ר10 of 28

so that he wanteth

H2638

lacking; hence, without

לְנַפְשׁ֣וֹ׀11 of 28

nothing for his soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

מִכֹּ֣ל12 of 28
H3605

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

אֲשֶׁר13 of 28
H834

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

יִתְאַוֶּ֗ה14 of 28

of all that he desireth

H183

to wish for

וְלֹֽא15 of 28
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤נּוּ16 of 28

giveth him not power

H7980

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

הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙17 of 28

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

יֹֽאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ18 of 28

eateth

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מִמֶּ֔נּוּ19 of 28
H4480

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

כִּ֛י20 of 28
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אִ֥ישׁ21 of 28

A man

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

נָכְרִ֖י22 of 28
H5237

strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful)

יֹֽאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ23 of 28

eateth

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

זֶ֥ה24 of 28
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

הֶ֛בֶל25 of 28

it this is vanity

H1892

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb

וָחֳלִ֥י26 of 28

disease

H2483

malady, anxiety, calamity

רָ֖ע27 of 28

and it is an evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הֽוּא׃28 of 28
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 6:2 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 6:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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