Ecclesiastes 5:15

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃

Transliteration

And also this rāʿāh ḥôlāh, all ʿummaṯ šebbāʾ thus yēlēḵ and what yiṯrôn to him šeyyaʿămōl to lārûaḥ

Grammar Details

*rāʿāh*: noun, feminine singular - evil/misery/distress
*ḥôlāh*: adjective, feminine singular - sick/sore
*ʿummaṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - parallel/corresponding to
*šebbāʾ*: relative particle + qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - that he came
*yēlēḵ*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will go
*yiṯrôn*: noun, masculine singular - profit/advantage
*šeyyaʿămōl*: relative particle + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - that he will labor
*lārûaḥ*: preposition + noun, feminine singular - for wind/breath/spirit

Word Meanings

*rāʿāh*: evil/misery/distress/injury/calamity
*ḥôlāh*: sick/sore/grievous/painful
*ʿummaṯ*: parallel/corresponding to/alongside/like
*yiṯrôn*: profit/advantage/gain/benefit
*yaʿămōl*: will labor/toil/work hard
*rûaḥ*: wind/breath/spirit/air

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Job 1:21 : 21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.
Ps 49:17 : 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
1 Tim 6:7 : 7 for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry {G3761} anything out;
Luke 12:20 : 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 5:16-17
2 verses
87%
16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
Eccl 5:13-14
2 verses
86%
13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
14and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Job 1:21
78%
21and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.
Eccl 6:2-7
6 verses
77%
2a 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.
3If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
4for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
5moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:
6yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
1 Tim 6:7
76%
7for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry {G3761} anything out;
Eccl 1:3
74%
3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Job 14:1-2
2 verses
74%
1Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.
2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Eccl 2:21-23
3 verses
73%
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
23For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
Ps 39:6
72%
6[Surely every man] [walketh] [in a vain show;] [Surely they are disquieted] [in vain:] [He heapeth up] [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Eccl 3:9
72%
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
Eccl 4:7-8
2 verses
72%
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Eccl 11:5
72%
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
Jer 20:18
72%
18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Eccl 12:7
72%
7and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
Job 15:29
72%
29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.
Ps 49:17
71%
17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
Jer 17:11
71%
11As the partridge that sitteth on [eggs] which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.
Job 7:10
71%
10He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
Job 20:18
71%
18That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
Ps 146:4
71%
4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.
Eccl 2:11
71%
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Eccl 9:10
71%
10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.
Job 34:15
71%
15All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
Eccl 4:15-16
2 verses
71%
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 3:20
71%
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Prov 13:11
70%
11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
Gen 3:19
70%
19in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Prov 6:11
70%
11So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
Eccl 3:22
70%
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Ps 129:7
70%
7Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
Prov 5:11
70%
11And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
Eccl 1:5
69%
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
Eccl 6:11-12
2 verses
69%
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 2:18-19
2 verses
69%
18And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Job 27:19
69%
19He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered [to his fathers]; He openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Prov 24:34
69%
34So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.