Ecclesiastes 5:10

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בִּרְבוֹת֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה רַבּ֖וּ אוֹכְלֶ֑יהָ וּמַה־כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ לִבְעָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֖י אִם־*ראית **רְא֥וּת עֵינָֽיו׃

Transliteration

In birḇôṯ haṭṭôḇāh rabbû ʾôḵəlehā and what kišrôn to liḇəʿālehā except rəʾûṯ ʿênāw

Grammar Details

• *birḇôṯ*: preposition + qal infinitive construct - in increasing
• *haṭṭôḇāh*: definite article + adjective, feminine singular - the good
• *rabbû*: qal perfect, 3rd common plural - they are many
• *ʾôḵəlehā*: qal participle, masculine plural with 3rd feminine singular suffix - those eating it
• *kišrôn*: noun, masculine singular - success/advantage
• *liḇəʿālehā*: preposition + noun, masculine plural with 3rd feminine singular suffix - to its owners
• *rəʾûṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - seeing of
• *ʿênāw*: noun, dual with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his eyes

Word Meanings

• *birḇôṯ*: to increase/multiply/become many
• *haṭṭôḇāh*: the good/pleasant/agreeable thing
• *kišrôn*: success/profit/advantage/skill
• *liḇəʿālehā*: to its owners/possessors/masters
• *rəʾûṯ*: seeing/looking at/beholding (text shows alternate reading)

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 4:8 : 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
• Matt 6:24 : 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• 1 Tim 6:10 : 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• Luke 12:15 : 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
• Eccl 2:11 : 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
• Matt 6:19 : 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
• Eccl 4:16 : 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
• Eccl 6:7 : 7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
• Hab 2:5-7 : 5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
• Eccl 2:17-18 : 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
• Eccl 2:26 : 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight 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 is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
• Eccl 3:19 : 19 For 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; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
• Eccl 4:4 : 4 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.
• Ps 52:7 : 7 Lo, this is the man that made{H8799)} not God his strength; but trusted{H8799)} in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened{H8799)} himself in his wickedness.
• Ps 62:10 : 10 Trust{H8799)} not in oppression, and become not vain{H8799)} in robbery: if riches increase{H8799)}, set{H8799)} not your heart upon them.
• Prov 30:15-16 : 15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
• Eccl 1:17 : 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
• Ps 52:1 : 1 To the chief Musician{H8764)}, Maschil{H8688)}, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came{H8800)} and told{H8686)} Saul, and said{H8799)} unto him, David is come{H8804)} to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest{H8691)} thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.