Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.

And who knoweth {H3045} whether he shall be a wise {H2450} man or a fool {H5530}? yet shall he have rule {H7980} over all my labour {H5999} wherein I have laboured {H5998}, and wherein I have shewed myself wise {H2449} under the sun {H8121}. This is also vanity {H1892}.

Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the things I worked for and which demonstrated how wise I am under the sun. This too is pointless.

And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 is a poignant reflection by Qoheleth, the Preacher, on the ultimate futility of human labor and accumulated wealth when viewed purely from an earthly perspective. It highlights the deeply unsettling reality that one cannot control the destiny of their hard-earned legacy after they are gone.

Context

This verse is found within a section of Ecclesiastes where Qoheleth details his extensive experiments with various pursuits to find meaning and satisfaction "under the sun." He describes his grand projects, accumulation of wealth, and pursuit of wisdom and pleasure, only to conclude that all these endeavors, despite their immediate gratification or apparent success, ultimately lead to frustration and emptiness. Specifically, in chapter 2, he reflects on the vanity of wisdom and folly, and the ultimate equalizer: death. His lament here focuses on the lack of control over who inherits the fruits of his immense labor and wisdom, amplifying the feeling of meaninglessness.

Key Themes

  • Uncertainty of Legacy: The core frustration expressed is the inability to determine if one's successor will be wise enough to preserve and manage the inheritance responsibly, or a fool who squanders it. This introduces a profound sense of powerlessness regarding earthly possessions and achievements.
  • Futility of Earthly Labor: Qoheleth's extensive toil, described as "my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise," is diminished by the prospect of it falling into incompetent hands. This emphasizes the transient and often unrewarding nature of purely material pursuits when detached from eternal purpose.
  • The Problem of Death: Implicitly, death is the ultimate disruptor, severing the laborer from their labor and passing control to an unknown successor. This reinforces the Preacher's recurring theme of life's brevity and unpredictability.
  • "Vanity" (Hebel): The verse concludes with the quintessential Ecclesiastical declaration, "This is also vanity." The Hebrew word hebel (often translated as 'vanity' or 'futility') conveys the idea of something fleeting, vaporous, absurd, or ultimately meaningless. Here, it underscores the emptiness of striving for earthly gain without an eternal perspective.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated use of "labour" and "laboured" in the KJV text emphasizes the immense effort and personal investment Qoheleth put into his achievements. The phrase "under the sun" is a recurring motif in Ecclesiastes, signifying life and existence viewed strictly from a human, earthly perspective, detached from divine revelation or eternal hope. This perspective is precisely what leads to the conclusion of hebel, or vanity, as the ultimate outcome of all human striving.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 2:19 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today not to place ultimate value or hope in earthly possessions, achievements, or legacies. While diligent work and wise stewardship are commendable, the verse cautions against an obsessive focus on accumulating wealth or power, especially if it overshadows spiritual pursuits. It encourages us to consider where our true treasures lie and to invest in what has eternal significance. As Jesus taught, it is wiser to store up treasures in heaven, where they are secure from earthly decay and human folly, rather than focusing solely on what can be lost or mismanaged by others.

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.

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • 1 Kings 14:25

    And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, [that] Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

  • 1 Kings 14:28

    And it was [so], when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.

  • 1 Kings 12:14

    And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

  • 1 Kings 12:20

    And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:13

    ¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it [seemed] great unto me:

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