The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:16 Explained

Ecclesiastes 5:16

KJV: And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

YLT: And this also is a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage is to him who laboureth for wind?

Darby: And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And this  also [is] a sore  evil,  [that] in all points  as he came,  so shall he go:  and what profit  hath he that hath laboured  for the wind? 

What does Ecclesiastes 5:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 5

1  vanities in divine service
8  in murmuring against oppression
9  and in riches
18  Joy in riches is the gift of God

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 5:16 mean?

And also this evil [is] a severe just exactly as he came so shall he go And what profit has he who has labored for the wind
וְגַם־ זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־ עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־ יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל ؟ לָרֽוּחַ

וְגַם־  And  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
זֹה֙  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄה  
Sense: this.
רָעָ֣ה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
חוֹלָ֔ה  [is]  a  severe 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
כָּל־  just 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֻמַּ֥ת  exactly 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עֻמָּה  
Sense: juxtaposition.
שֶׁבָּ֖א  as  he  came 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
כֵּ֣ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יֵלֵ֑ךְ  shall  he  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וּמַה־  And  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יִּתְר֣וֹן  profit 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִתְרֹון  
Sense: advantage, profit, excellency.
ל֔וֹ  has  he 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל  who  has  labored 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַל  
Sense: to labour, toil.
؟ לָרֽוּחַ  for  the  wind 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.