Ecclesiastes 2:18

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Yea, I hated {H8130} all my labour {H5999} which I had taken {H6001} under the sun {H8121}: because I should leave {H3240} it unto the man {H120} that shall be after {H310} me.

I hated all the things for which I had worked under the sun, because I saw that I would have to leave them to the man who will come after me.

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:18 (KJV): "Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me."

Context

Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to King Solomon (the "Preacher" or "Qoheleth"), is a profound exploration of life's meaning and purpose from a human perspective, often described as "under the sun." In chapter 2, the Preacher recounts his extensive experiments to find satisfaction and meaning. He sought pleasure, wisdom, wealth, and engaged in massive building projects and agricultural endeavors. Despite achieving unparalleled success in all these pursuits, he ultimately concludes that everything is "vanity and vexation of spirit" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Verse 18 specifically addresses his frustration with the fruit of his labor, realizing its temporal nature.

Key Themes

  • The Futility of Earthly Labor: The Preacher expresses strong contempt ("hated") for his vast accomplishments. This isn't a hatred of work itself, but of the ultimate outcome when viewed solely from an earthly perspective. He sees the effort as meaningless because its benefits are fleeting.
  • The Inevitability of Death: A core existential crisis for the Preacher is the realization that he cannot take his wealth or achievements with him. Death levels all, stripping away accumulated possessions and power.
  • Uncertainty of Inheritance: The "man that shall be after me" is an unknown successor. This uncertainty compounds the frustration; the Preacher doesn't know if his heir will be wise or foolish, diligent or wasteful. All his painstaking work could be squandered by another, highlighting the lack of control over one's legacy.
  • Vanity of Accumulation: This verse powerfully underscores the book's central message about the "vanity" of striving for earthly possessions and achievements without an eternal perspective.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "under the sun" (Hebrew: tachat ha-shemesh) is a recurring motif throughout Ecclesiastes (appearing 29 times). It denotes human existence and experience limited to the earthly realm, without divine revelation or eternal hope. From this perspective, the Preacher's conclusions are often pessimistic. The word "hated" (Hebrew: sane') is a strong term, indicating profound displeasure or aversion, emphasizing the depth of his disillusionment with his labor's ultimate outcome.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 2:18 serves as a potent reminder for us today not to place our ultimate hope, identity, or security in earthly achievements, wealth, or possessions. While diligent work is commended elsewhere in Scripture, this verse cautions against laboring solely for what is temporal. It encourages us to:

  • Seek Eternal Value: Rather than focusing on what we must leave behind, invest in what has eternal significance, such as spiritual growth, relationships, and service to God and others (compare Matthew 6:19-21).
  • Embrace Stewardship: Recognize that all we have—time, talents, and resources—are gifts from God to be managed wisely, not hoarded or obsessed over. We are stewards, not ultimate owners.
  • Find Meaning Beyond Accumulation: True contentment and purpose are not found in the endless pursuit of more, but in a right relationship with God and understanding His purpose for our lives. This perspective helps us to enjoy the fruits of our labor as gifts from God, rather than seeing them as a source of ultimate security or despair, much like the parable of the rich fool.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 49:10

    For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Luke 16:27

    Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

  • Luke 16:28

    For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

  • Psalms 17:14

    From men [which are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:9

    Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:13

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

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