Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 3:9 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 3:9 |
Strong Concordance |
What profit [03504] hath he that worketh [06213] in that wherein [0834] he laboureth [06001]? |
| |
King James |
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| But these earthly pursuits, while lawful in their season, are "unprofitable" when made by man, what God never intended them to be, the chief good. Solomon had tried to create an artificial forced joy, at times when he ought rather to have been serious; the result, therefore, of his labor to be happy, out of God's order, was disappointment. "A time to plant" (Ecc 3:2) refers to his planting (Ecc 2:5); "laugh" (Ecc 3:4), to Ecc 2:1-2; "his mirth," "laughter"; "build up," "gather stones" (Ecc 3:3, Ecc 3:5), to his "building" (Ecc 2:4); "embrace," "love," to his "princess" (see on Ecc 2:8); "get" (perhaps also "gather," Ecc 3:5-6), to his "gathering" (Ecc 2:8). All these were of "no profit," because not in God's time and order of bestowing happiness. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| Since, then, everything has its time depending not on human influence, but on the determination and providence of God, the question arises: "What gain hath he that worketh in that wherewith he wearieth himself?" It is the complaint of Ecc 1:3 which is here repeated. From all the labour there comes forth nothing which carries in it the security of its continuance; but in all he does man is conditioned by the change of times and circumstances and relations over which he has no control. And the converse of this his weakness is short-sightedness. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| What profit - Seeing then all events are out of man's power, and no man can do or enjoy any thing at his pleasure, but only when God pleaseth, as has been shewed in many particulars, and is as true and certain in all others, hence it follows, that all men's labours, without God's blessing, are unprofitable, and utterly insufficient to make them happy. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| What profit hath he - What real good, what solid pleasure, is derived from all the labors of man? Necessity drives him to the principal part of his cares and toils; he labors that he may eat and drink; and he eats and drinks that he may be preserved alive, and kept from sickness and pain. Love of money, the basest of all passions, and restless ambition, drive men to many labors and expedients, which perplex and often destroy them. He, then, who lives without God, travails in pain all his days. |
8 I gathered [03664] me also silver [03701] and gold [02091], and the peculiar treasure [05459] of kings [04428] and of the provinces [04082]: I gat [06213] me men singers [07891] and women singers [07891], and the delights [08588] of the sons [01121] of men [0120], as musical instruments [07705] [07705], and that of all sorts.
5 A time [06256] to cast away [07993] stones [068], and a time [06256] to gather [03664] stones [068] together [03664]; a time [06256] to embrace [02263], and a time [06256] to refrain [07368] from embracing [02263];
6 A time [06256] to get [01245], and a time [06256] to lose [06]; a time [06256] to keep [08104], and a time [06256] to cast away [07993];
8 I gathered [03664] me also silver [03701] and gold [02091], and the peculiar treasure [05459] of kings [04428] and of the provinces [04082]: I gat [06213] me men singers [07891] and women singers [07891], and the delights [08588] of the sons [01121] of men [0120], as musical instruments [07705] [07705], and that of all sorts.
4 I made me great [01431] works [04639]; I builded [01129] me houses [01004]; I planted [05193] me vineyards [03754]:
5 A time [06256] to cast away [07993] stones [068], and a time [06256] to gather [03664] stones [068] together [03664]; a time [06256] to embrace [02263], and a time [06256] to refrain [07368] from embracing [02263];
3 A time [06256] to kill [02026], and a time [06256] to heal [07495]; a time [06256] to break down [06555], and a time [06256] to build up [01129];
1 I said [0559] in mine heart [03820], Go to now [03212], I will prove [05254] thee with mirth [08057], therefore enjoy [07200] pleasure [02896]: and, behold, this also is vanity [01892].
2 I said [0559] of laughter [07814], It is mad [01984]: and of mirth [08057], What [02090] doeth [06213] it?
4 A time [06256] to weep [01058], and a time [06256] to laugh [07832]; a time [06256] to mourn [05594], and a time [06256] to dance [07540];
5 I made [06213] me gardens [01593] and orchards [06508], and I planted [05193] trees [06086] in them of all kind of fruits [06529]:
2 A time [06256] to be born [03205], and a time [06256] to die [04191]; a time [06256] to plant [05193], and a time [06256] to pluck up [06131] that which is planted [05193];
3 What profit [03504] hath a man [0120] of all his labour [05999] which he taketh [05998] under the sun [08121]?