Ecclesiastes 1:3

Translations

Modern

What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

Traditional

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Literal

What profit is unto the man from all his toil, with which he toils under the sun?

Latin

Quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quo laborat sub sole?

Original

Hebrew

English

What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

Notes

Ecclesiastes 1:3

The Hebrew phrase under the sun appears twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes. The New Living Translation sometimes translates it as "here on earth" (Proverbs 2:18) or "in this world" (Proverbs 2:20). It suggests a view of life focused on earthly matters rather than God's perspective.

Ecclesiastes 1:2–11

The Teacher starts by noting that every natural and historical activity has a repetitive cycle of coming and going, existing and not existing. This can cause some to feel that everything is meaningless. The Teacher quickly shifts from one topic to another and ends this section with the topic he began with, using a literary style that reflects the cycles he describes in nature and human history.

Related verses

Ecclesiastes 3:9
What does the worker gain from his toil?
Ecclesiastes 5:16
This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?
Ecclesiastes 2:22
For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 2:11
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Mark 8:36–37
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
John 6:27
Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
Proverbs 23:4–5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Ecclesiastes 2:19
And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
Ecclesiastes 8:15–17
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
Habakkuk 2:13
Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?

Glossary

Book of Ecclesiastes Futility Sun

Topics

Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning Industry: General Scriptures Concerning

Ecclesiastes 1:3

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics