Ecclesiastes 5:16

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And 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?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

גַּ֥ם כָּל־יָמָ֖יו בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֹאכֵ֑ל וְכָעַ֥ס הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְחָלְי֥וֹ וָקָֽצֶף׃

Transliteration

Also all yāmāw in baḥōšeḵ yōʾḵēl and ḵāʿas harbēh and ḥālyô and wāqāṣep̄

Grammar Details

*yāmāw*: noun, masculine plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his days
*baḥōšeḵ*: preposition + definite article + noun, masculine singular - in the darkness
*yōʾḵēl*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he eats
*ḵāʿas*: noun, masculine singular - vexation/anger
*harbēh*: verb (hiphil infinitive absolute used as adverb) - much/many
*ḥālyô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his sickness
*wāqāṣep̄*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and wrath

Word Meanings

*baḥōšeḵ*: in darkness/obscurity/ignorance
*yōʾḵēl*: he eats/consumes/devours
*ḵāʿas*: vexation/anger/irritation/grief
*harbēh*: much/many/greatly/exceedingly
*ḥālyô*: his sickness/disease/illness
*wāqāṣep̄*: and wrath/anger/indignation

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

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 11:29 : 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Eccl 1:3 : 3 What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Eccl 2:22-23 : 22 For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun? 23 For 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.
Eccl 5:13 : 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
Isa 26:18 : 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Jer 2:8 : 8 The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Hos 8:7 : 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
Mark 8:36 : 36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
John 6:27 : 27 Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
1 Sam 12:21 : 21 and turn ye not aside; for [then would ye go] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Eccl 5:13-15
3 verses
87%
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.
15As 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.
Eccl 1:2-3
2 verses
82%
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Eccl 2:17-24
8 verses
80%
17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
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.
20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
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.
24There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
Eccl 5:17-18
2 verses
80%
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
18Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.
Eccl 4:16
79%
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 2:11
79%
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 3:9
79%
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
Eccl 6:1-9
9 verses
79%
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:
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.
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 4:3-4
2 verses
77%
3yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 4:7-8
2 verses
77%
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 1:14
76%
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 1:5-6
2 verses
76%
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
Eccl 6:11-12
2 verses
76%
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 12:8
75%
8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl 3:22
75%
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?
Eccl 9:3
75%
3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.
Eccl 3:19-20
2 verses
75%
19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Eccl 2:26
74%
26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 8:14
74%
14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
Job 14:2
74%
2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Ps 39:6
74%
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 11:8
74%
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
Eccl 8:10
73%
10So I saw the wicked buried, and they came [to the grave]; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.
Eccl 8:17
73%
17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Ps 103:16
73%
16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
Eccl 9:10
72%
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.