Ecclesiastes 1:3

KJV

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

KJV (with Strong's)

What profit {H3504} hath a man {H120} of all his labour {H5999} which he taketh {H5998} under the sun {H8121}?

Complete Jewish Bible

What does a person gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

Berean Standard Bible

What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

American Standard Version

What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ecclesiastes 1:3 presents the foundational and probing question that undergirds the Preacher's entire inquiry: "What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" This verse encapsulates a profound existential and theological dilemma, challenging the inherent human assumption that striving and toil in the earthly realm yield any ultimate, lasting value or enduring benefit. It serves as the thesis statement for Qoheleth's comprehensive empirical investigation into the meaning and purpose of human existence when viewed solely from a temporal perspective, devoid of an explicit eternal dimension.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ecclesiastes 1:3 immediately follows the Preacher's stark and iconic declaration in [Ecclesiastes 1:2](/ecclesiastes/1-2 "Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of Vanities") that "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." This opening pronouncement establishes the book's initial tone of skepticism and sets the stage for a rigorous examination of life's pursuits. Verse 3 then operationalizes this declaration by posing a practical, yet deeply philosophical, question about the tangible and lasting outcome of human effort. It functions as the central inquiry that Qoheleth meticulously explores in the subsequent chapters, where he systematically tests various human endeavors—including the pursuit of wisdom, pleasure, wealth, and diligent work—to ascertain their capacity to provide ultimate satisfaction or enduring "profit." The pervasive themes of "under the sun" and "vanity" throughout [the book of Ecclesiastes](/ecclesiastes/1 "The Book of Ecclesiastes") continually reinforce the gravity of this initial question.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ecclesiastes is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon, who writes from the unique vantage point of immense wisdom, wealth, and power. This attribution is crucial, as it grounds the Preacher's observations in a position that allowed him to explore every conceivable avenue of human achievement and pleasure without practical limitation. In the ancient Near Eastern world, as in any society, hard work, the accumulation of resources, and the pursuit of wisdom were generally esteemed and believed to lead to a good life. However, the Preacher's radical inquiry in [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - The Question of Profit") challenges this conventional wisdom, questioning whether these pursuits inherently lead to lasting happiness, significance, or an eternal legacy. The recurring phrase "under the sun" reflects an empirical, observational approach to life, characteristic of wisdom literature, but here it specifically delimits the scope of the inquiry to what is perceivable and achievable within the confines of earthly existence, initially without explicit reference to a transcendent God until the book's concluding chapters.
* **Key Themes:** This pivotal verse introduces several central themes that permeate [the entire book of Ecclesiastes](/ecclesiastes/1 "The Book of Ecclesiastes"). Firstly, it raises the profound **question of ultimate gain or lasting benefit**, challenging the widespread assumption that human effort inherently yields enduring satisfaction. The concept of "profit" (Hebrew: *yithron*) is paramount, signifying a search for something that truly adds value beyond the immediate and transient. Secondly, it highlights the **perceived futility of earthly labor** when viewed from a limited, "under the sun" perspective. The Preacher suggests that much of human striving and toil may ultimately yield no permanent advantage, emphasizing the inherent **transience of life** and the limitations of human achievement (compare [Ecclesiastes 2:11](/ecclesiastes/2-11 "Ecclesiastes 2:11 - All is Vanity")). Thirdly, it speaks to the **universal human condition** of labor and striving, prompting a deep introspection into what truly remains after a lifetime of dedicated effort. This sets the stage for the Preacher's exhaustive exploration of various human pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, wealth, and work—to test their ability to provide lasting fulfillment, ultimately leading to the profound conclusion found in [Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Fear God and Keep His Commandments").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **profit (Hebrew, _yithrôwn'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be preeminent" or "to gain," this term carries a commercial connotation, referring to an advantage, surplus, or net gain. In [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - The Question of Profit"), the Preacher is asking: "What is the lasting benefit, the ultimate return, the enduring advantage after all the expenditure of effort and life?" He seeks something that truly endures and provides ultimate value beyond fleeting moments or material accumulation.
* **man (Hebrew, _ʼâdâm'_):** This word refers to a human being, an individual, or humanity as a species. Its use here underscores the universality of the question posed: it is not merely about a specific person, but about the inherent experience of all humankind. It emphasizes the commonality of human labor and the shared existential dilemma of finding meaning and ultimate purpose in life.
* **labour (Hebrew, _ʻâmâl'_):** This noun signifies toil, wearing effort, worry, or even grievousness. It denotes work that is burdensome, painful, or leads to weariness, whether of body or mind. The question in [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - The Question of Profit") is not just about work in general, but specifically about the arduous, often frustrating, and seemingly endless striving that characterizes much of human existence "under the sun."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What profit hath a man":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the central inquiry of the book. It is a rhetorical question, not necessarily expecting a simple, direct answer, but rather initiating a deep philosophical and theological investigation into the ultimate value of human life and effort. The "profit" (Hebrew: *yithron*) sought is not merely financial gain, but an ultimate, enduring benefit or advantage that transcends the temporal and material. It challenges the inherent human assumption that effort automatically leads to meaningful, lasting reward.
* **"of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?":** This clause precisely defines the scope and context of the "profit" being questioned. "Labour" (Hebrew: *ʻâmâl*) refers to the strenuous, often burdensome, toil and effort that characterizes human existence. The crucial phrase "under the sun" is a hallmark of Ecclesiastes, appearing almost 30 times. It signifies the Preacher's observational perspective—life as it is lived and perceived purely from an earthly, human-centric viewpoint, without explicit consideration of a divine, eternal dimension. This limitation underscores the perceived futility and transience of human endeavors when detached from a transcendent purpose.

#### Literary Devices
Ecclesiastes 1:3 masterfully employs several powerful literary devices to set the tone and theme for the entire book. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, "What profit hath a man...?", which serves not to elicit a direct answer but to provoke deep thought, engage the reader immediately in the Preacher's existential dilemma, and establish the central inquiry that the rest of the book will explore. **Repetition** is subtly present through the implied connection to "vanity" from the preceding verse ([Ecclesiastes 1:2](/ecclesiastes/1-2 "Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of Vanities")), creating a thematic echo that reinforces the initial sense of futility and the transient nature of earthly pursuits. The phrase "**under the sun**" functions as a recurring **Motif** throughout Ecclesiastes, appearing almost thirty times. This motif acts as a constant reminder of the limited, earthly perspective from which the Preacher's observations are made, delimiting the scope of his inquiry to the observable, temporal world. This phrase also serves as a form of **Synecdoche**, where "the sun" represents the entire observable, material world and human experience within it, emphasizing the temporal and finite nature of human existence apart from God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ecclesiastes 1:3 lays the essential groundwork for the book's profound theological exploration of human purpose and the nature of true blessedness. It challenges the common human tendency to seek ultimate fulfillment and meaning in earthly pursuits—such as wealth, wisdom, pleasure, and diligently applied work—and suggests that these, when pursued in isolation from God, ultimately yield no lasting "profit" or genuine satisfaction. This verse implicitly points to the inherent limitations of human wisdom and effort to provide ultimate meaning, thus underscoring humanity's dependence on a divine framework for true purpose and contentment. The Preacher's initial question ultimately directs the reader toward a transcendent perspective, which he eventually arrives at in the book's concluding chapters, revealing that true profit is found in a right relationship with God.

* [Ecclesiastes 2:11](/ecclesiastes/2-11 "The Vanity of Earthly Pursuits")
* [Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "The Whole Duty of Man")
* [Psalm 49:10-12](/psalm/49-10-12 "The Folly of Trusting in Riches")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ecclesiastes 1:3 serves as a profound mirror, prompting us to critically examine the ultimate purpose and lasting value of our own labors and ambitions in contemporary life. In a world that often measures success by accumulation, achievement, and visible "profit," this verse challenges us to ask: What truly endures beyond the fleeting moments of earthly gain? Are we investing our precious time, energy, and resources into things that will yield eternal "profit," or merely into transient earthly gains that offer no lasting satisfaction or ultimate significance? This verse encourages believers to cultivate an eternal perspective, understanding that true fulfillment and ultimate "profit" are not found in accumulating wealth or achievements "under the sun," but in aligning our lives with God's will, seeking His glory, and recognizing that our labor for the Lord, unlike the Preacher's initial observation, is never in vain. It calls us to re-evaluate our priorities, ensuring that our striving is rooted in a purpose that transcends the temporal and points to the eternal, finding our deepest satisfaction in Christ alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "profit" mean to you in the context of your daily work and life pursuits, and how do you measure it?**
* **How does adopting an "under the sun" perspective, focused solely on earthly outcomes, influence your current goals and aspirations?**
* **In what ways might you be investing your "labour" into things that offer no lasting "profit" from an eternal perspective?**
* **How can cultivating an eternal perspective, grounded in faith, change the way you approach your work, relationships, and daily responsibilities?**

### FAQ
**What does "under the sun" mean in Ecclesiastes?**

Answer: The phrase "under the sun" is a recurring and defining motif in Ecclesiastes, appearing almost 30 times. It signifies the Preacher's observational perspective, limiting his inquiry to life as it is lived and perceived purely from an earthly, human-centric viewpoint. It refers to everything that occurs within the temporal, material world, without explicit consideration of a divine, eternal dimension. This perspective often highlights the limitations, frustrations, and perceived futility of human endeavors when detached from God's ultimate purpose, as seen in verses like [Ecclesiastes 1:9](/ecclesiastes/1-9 "Ecclesiastes 1:9 - Nothing New Under the Sun") and [Ecclesiastes 3:16](/ecclesiastes/3-16 "Ecclesiastes 3:16 - Injustice Under the Sun"). It's the lens through which Qoheleth initially examines life's meaning.

**Is Ecclesiastes a pessimistic book?**

Answer: While Ecclesiastes certainly presents a stark and often seemingly pessimistic view of life "under the sun," it is more accurately described as a profoundly realistic and ultimately redemptive book. The Preacher meticulously explores the futility of various human pursuits (wisdom, pleasure, wealth, labor) from a purely earthly perspective to demonstrate their inherent inability to provide lasting meaning or satisfaction. This seemingly bleak outlook serves as a necessary literary and theological device, highlighting the emptiness of life apart from God, and thus setting the stage for the book's ultimate, hopeful conclusion. The book's "pessimism" is a strategic rhetorical tool used to underscore the absolute necessity of a transcendent, God-centered worldview, culminating in the instruction to "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" ([Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The Conclusion of the Whole Matter")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ecclesiastes 1:3, with its probing question about the ultimate profit of human labor "under the sun," finds its profound and complete Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Preacher's earnest search for enduring value—a "profit" that transcends the vanity and transience of earthly endeavors—is ultimately and perfectly answered in the eternal life and divine purpose offered exclusively through Christ. While human labor "under the sun" may yield no lasting profit in itself, Jesus himself poses a similar, yet infinitely more significant, question: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" ([Matthew 16:26](/matthew/16-26 "Matthew 16:26 - What Does It Profit?")). This echoes the Preacher's deep concern but elevates the discussion to the eternal destiny of the soul as the ultimate measure of "profit." Our labor, when done in Christ and for His glory, is transformed from transient toil into meaningful, eternally significant service. The Apostle Paul powerfully affirms this truth, declaring that our "labor in the Lord is not in vain" ([1 Corinthians 15:58](/1_corinthians/15-58 "1 Corinthians 15:58 - Labor in the Lord")), directly contrasting the Preacher's initial observations. Jesus himself is the ultimate "profit" and "wisdom from God" ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom and Righteousness")), providing the lasting meaning, satisfaction, and eternal inheritance that the Preacher sought but could not find apart from divine revelation. In Christ, our lives and labors are redeemed from vanity and imbued with eternal purpose, culminating not in earthly gain, but in the "unfading crown of glory" ([1 Peter 5:4](/1_peter/5-4 "1 Peter 5:4 - The Unfading Crown")) and an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")), a true and eternal profit beyond anything achievable "under the sun."

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 3:9

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

Ecclesiastes 2:11

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.

Ecclesiastes 2:22

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 5:16

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?

John 6:27

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:37

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?