Ecclesiastes 5:19

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 5:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, etc.] Which include the whole of a man’s substance; all his estate, personal and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms; which are all the gift of God, by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed; and hath given him power; or, “caused him to have dominion”f140, over his wealth and riches, and not be a slave to them, as many are: but to have so much command of them and of himself, as to eat thereof; comfortably enjoy them; and dispose of them to his own good, the good of others, and the glory of God. It follows, and to take his portion; which God hath allotted…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As Ecc 5:18 refers to the "laboring" man (Ecc 5:12), so Ecc 5:19 to the "rich" man, who gets wealth not by "oppression" (Ecc 5:8), but by "God's gift." He is distinguished also from the "rich" man (Ecc 6:2) in having received by God's gift not only "wealth," but also "power to eat thereof," which that one has not. to take his portion--limits him to the lawful use of wealth, not keeping back from God His portion while enjoying his own.”
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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
“To take - To use what God hath given him. Ecclesiastes 5:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“to whom: Ecc 2:24, Ecc 3:13, Ecc 6:2; Deu 8:18; Kg1 3:13 this is: Ecc 2:24-26 Ecclesiastes 5:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“This verse, expressing the same, is constructed anakolouthistically, altogether like Ecc 3:13 : "Also for every man to whom God hath given riches and treasures, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; just this is a gift of God." The anakolouthon can be rendered into English here as little as it can at Ecc 3:13; for if we allow the phrase, "also every man," the "also" remains fixed to the nearest conception, while in the Heb it governs the whole long sentence, and, at the nearest, belongs to זה. Cheerful enjoyment is in this life that which is most advisable; but also it is not made possible in itself by the possession of earthly…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification