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Ecclesiastes 5:14

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 5:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Ecclesiastes 5:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?
12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
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.
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.
← Ecclesiastes 5:13Ecclesiastes 5:15 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But those riches perish by evil travail, etc.] Or, “by an evil business or affair”f136. That is, such riches as are not well got, or are not used as they should be, these waste away and come to nothing; either by the owner’s bad management, and misconduct in trade and business; or by fire, tempest, thieves, and robbers, and many other ways and means: these are very certain things; and there are various ways by which they make themselves wings and flee away, under the direction of a divine providence; and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand; the riches he had hoarded up, he designed for his son; but being stripped of them by one means or another, when he comes to die, has…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Evil travail - Adverse accident, or unsuccessful employment (compare Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 4:8). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Perish - By some wicked practices, either his own, or of other men. Nothing - In the son's possession after his father's death. Ecclesiastes 5:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“those: Ecc 2:26; Job 5:5, Job 20:15-29, Job 27:16, Job 27:17; Psa 39:6; Pro 23:5; Hag 1:9; Hag 2:16, Hag 2:17; Mat 6:19, Mat 6:20 and he: Sa1 2:6-8, Sa1 2:36; Kg1 14:26; Psa 109:9-12 Ecclesiastes 5:15”
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Related study paths

Read Ecclesiastes 5 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification