Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Toil?
17 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Toil in the Bible
Discover 17 powerful Bible verses about toil. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential miscellaneous topic.
Top 10 Verses About Toil
- 1Genesis 3:17
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”
KJV - 2Psalms 127:1
“A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. for: or, of Solomon that: Heb. that are builders of it in it”
KJV - 3Psalms 127:2
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
KJV - 4
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- 8Proverbs 23:5
“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. set: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon”
KJV - 9Ecclesiastes 3:12
“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.”
KJV - 10Ecclesiastes 3:13
“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Toil? (16 Verses)
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”
“A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. for: or, of Solomon that: Heb. that are builders of it in it”
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”
“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:”
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.”
“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. set: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon”
“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.”
“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
“So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. side: Heb. hand”
“Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. every: Heb. all the rightness of work for this: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour”
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
“As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.”
“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”
“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.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Toil? (1 Verses)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Toil
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about toil. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about toil and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about toil is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on toil needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about toil with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about toil, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Toil?
You have studied 17 verses about toil. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.