Ecclesiastes 2:20

KJV

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore I went about {H5437} to cause {H2976} my heart {H3820} to despair {H2976} of all the labour {H5999} which I took {H5998} under the sun {H8121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Thus I came to despair over all the things I had worked for under the sun.

Berean Standard Bible

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

American Standard Version

Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ecclesiastes 2:20 marks a pivotal moment in the Preacher's existential journey, where he articulates a profound shift from diligent pursuit of earthly satisfaction to an overwhelming sense of despair. After meticulously exploring wisdom, pleasure, and immense material achievements, he concludes that all his strenuous efforts "under the sun" ultimately yield no lasting fulfillment or meaning. This verse encapsulates his deep disillusionment, signifying a complete loss of hope in the ability of human endeavor and worldly accomplishments to provide ultimate purpose or joy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the Preacher's exhaustive account in [Ecclesiastes 2](/ecclesiastes/2 "Ecclesiastes 2 - The Preacher's Experiments") of his comprehensive experiments in finding satisfaction. He describes his pursuit of pleasure, the accumulation of vast wealth, the construction of grand architectural projects, and the acquisition of servants and possessions, all undertaken with unparalleled wisdom and resources. Despite achieving everything his heart desired, he repeatedly concluded that these pursuits were "vanity and a striving after wind," as articulated in [Ecclesiastes 2:11](/ecclesiastes/2-11 "Ecclesiastes 2:11 - All is Vanity"). Verse 20, therefore, serves as a climactic expression of the emotional and spiritual toll of this realization, signaling a complete surrender to the futility of such endeavors. It sets the stage for his subsequent reflections on the transient nature of wealth and wisdom, particularly in light of death, which he discusses in [Ecclesiastes 2:16-19](/ecclesiastes/2-16 "Ecclesiastes 2:16-19 - The Fate of the Wise and Foolish").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who reigned over Israel during a period of immense wealth, peace, and cultural flourishing in the 10th century BCE. This historical backdrop provides the context for the Preacher's unparalleled ability to indulge in every conceivable pleasure and undertake massive building projects, such as the Temple in Jerusalem and his own palace, as described in [1 Kings 6-7](/1_kings/6 "1 Kings 6-7 - Solomon's Building Projects"). The "labour" mentioned in the verse would have encompassed not only personal exertion but also the vast administrative and logistical efforts required to manage an empire and its resources. The cultural understanding of "wisdom" in the ancient Near East often involved practical knowledge for successful living, but the Preacher's journey challenges the notion that even the highest human wisdom can provide ultimate meaning "under the sun," a phrase that limits perspective to the earthly realm.

* **Key Themes:** Ecclesiastes 2:20 powerfully reinforces several core themes of the book. The most prominent is the **Futility of Earthly Labors**, demonstrating that human effort and achievement, when disconnected from a divine, eternal purpose, lead only to emptiness and despair. This verse highlights the theme of **Disillusionment and Despair**, as the Preacher's heart is explicitly stated to have been caused "to despair," reflecting the emotional and spiritual bankruptcy of seeking ultimate satisfaction in transient, worldly things. Furthermore, the recurring motif of "under the sun" emphasizes the **Limited Human Perspective**, signifying an observation of life confined to earthly existence, without an eternal or transcendent viewpoint. This limited perspective is precisely what ultimately leads to the Preacher's conclusion about the vanity of life, echoing his earlier lament in [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - What Profit Under the Sun?").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **despair (Hebrew, _yâʼash'_):** H2976, a primitive root meaning "to desist" or "to despond." It conveys a sense of giving up hope, being desperate, or having no hope. In this context, it signifies a profound and active decision by the Preacher to abandon any expectation of finding lasting satisfaction or meaning in his earthly endeavors. His heart is not merely sad, but has reached a point of utter hopelessness regarding the value of his accumulated work.
* **heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** H3820, a widely used term referring not just to the physical organ, but comprehensively to the inner person—the seat of emotions, will, intellect, and moral character. When the Preacher states his "heart" was caused to despair, it indicates a total, internal collapse of his deepest being, affecting his feelings, understanding, and resolve concerning his life's work. It is a holistic despair, not merely a superficial disappointment.
* **labour (Hebrew, _ʻâmâl'_):** H5999, derived from H5998, a root meaning "to toil" or "work severely and with irksomeness." The noun form, `ʻâmâl`, denotes wearing effort, worry, grievance, pain, or trouble. It is not simply "work" but "toil" that is burdensome, painful, and ultimately unrewarding. This word choice emphasizes the heavy, wearisome nature of the Preacher's pursuits, making his subsequent despair all the more poignant and understandable.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore I went about":** The KJV translation "went about" (from H5437, _çâbab'_) implies a turning or revolving, suggesting a deliberate and comprehensive process of consideration or experimentation. It signifies the Preacher's active and exhaustive engagement in his various pursuits, a methodical exploration of all avenues for satisfaction. This phrase sets the stage for the consequence of that exhaustive search.
* **"to cause my heart to despair":** This clause reveals the direct outcome of the Preacher's comprehensive "going about." His extensive efforts, far from bringing joy or fulfillment, led to an internal state of utter hopelessness. The phrasing "cause my heart to despair" suggests a deliberate, almost inevitable, intellectual and emotional conclusion drawn from his experiences, rather than a fleeting emotion. His core being, his `lêb`, reached a definitive verdict of futility.
* **"of all the labour which I took under the sun.":** This specifies the object of his despair: the entirety of his "labour" (`ʻâmâl`). This is not just any work, but the "wearing effort" and "toil" that consumed his life. The crucial qualifier "under the sun" (H8121, _shemesh_) restricts the scope of his despair to human existence and endeavors viewed from a purely earthly perspective, devoid of divine or eternal reference points. It is the sum total of his worldly achievements, pursued within this limited framework, that ultimately proved meaningless and led to his profound disillusionment.

#### Literary Devices
Ecclesiastes 2:20 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the Preacher, who possessed unparalleled wisdom and resources to achieve anything "under the sun," ultimately finds that these very accomplishments lead him to despair rather than satisfaction. His immense "labour" (a word imbued with connotations of pain and weariness) paradoxically yields only a deeper sense of futility. The phrase "under the sun" functions as a recurring **Motif** throughout Ecclesiastes, consistently framing the Preacher's observations within a purely earthly, finite perspective, which is the very source of his despair. This motif highlights the limitations of human understanding and effort when detached from a transcendent reality. Furthermore, the **Personification** of the "heart" being "caused to despair" emphasizes the deep, internal, and fundamental nature of his disillusionment, suggesting that his inner being has actively concluded the vanity of his pursuits.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the biblical truth that ultimate meaning and satisfaction cannot be found in worldly pursuits, no matter how grand or successful. It serves as a stark reminder that human efforts, wealth, and even wisdom, when pursued as ends in themselves "under the sun," are inherently limited and incapable of fulfilling the deepest longings of the human spirit. The Preacher's despair is a theological statement on the insufficiency of creation apart from the Creator, echoing the inherent human need for a transcendent purpose that only God can provide. It challenges the common human tendency to seek ultimate security and joy in temporal achievements, pointing instead to the inherent emptiness of a life lived without an eternal perspective.

* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - The Way That Seems Right")
* [Luke 12:16](/luke/12-16 "Luke 12:16-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool")
* [Philippians 3:7](/philippians/3-7 "Philippians 3:7-8 - Paul's Renunciation of Earthly Gain")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ecclesiastes 2:20 stands as a timeless warning against the seductive illusion that human achievement, material accumulation, or even intellectual prowess can provide ultimate meaning and lasting contentment. The Preacher's journey, culminating in despair over his "labour under the sun," compels us to examine the true objects of our hope and the sources of our deepest satisfaction. In a world that constantly glorifies success, productivity, and self-made prosperity, this verse calls us to a radical re-evaluation of what truly matters. It invites us to consider whether our own "labour" is directed towards eternal purposes or merely towards fleeting, earthly gains that will ultimately leave our hearts empty. True fulfillment is not found in what we accumulate or achieve, but in our relationship with God and our participation in His eternal kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I primarily focused on "labour under the sun" that might ultimately lead to despair?**
* **How does my definition of success align with or diverge from the Preacher's experience in Ecclesiastes?**
* **What steps can I take to reorient my efforts towards pursuits that have eternal significance and bring true, lasting joy?**
* **How does the Preacher's despair challenge my own assumptions about where to find happiness and purpose?**

### FAQ
**Does the Preacher's despair mean that all work is meaningless?**

Answer: No, the Preacher's despair in [Ecclesiastes 2:20](/ecclesiastes/2-20 "Ecclesiastes 2:20 - The Preacher's Despair") does not mean that all work is inherently meaningless. Rather, it highlights that work, when pursued solely for earthly gain, personal pleasure, or self-aggrandizement, and without an eternal perspective or connection to God's purposes, ultimately fails to provide lasting satisfaction. The Preacher later affirms the gift of work and enjoyment of its fruits as from God (e.g., [Ecclesiastes 3:12-13](/ecclesiastes/3-12 "Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 - Enjoyment of Work as God's Gift")). The issue is the *source* of meaning and the *ultimate object* of our hope, not the activity of work itself.

**What does "under the sun" specifically imply in Ecclesiastes?**

Answer: The phrase "under the sun" (Hebrew: *tachath ha-shemesh*) is a recurring motif throughout Ecclesiastes, appearing nearly 30 times. It serves to define the scope of the Preacher's observations and philosophical inquiry, limiting it to human experience and phenomena as observed from an earthly, finite perspective. It signifies a worldview that largely excludes divine intervention, eternal realities, or transcendent purpose. Within this limited "under the sun" framework, the Preacher concludes that all human endeavors are "vanity" or "hebel," a word implying breath, vapor, or futility, as seen in [Ecclesiastes 1:2](/ecclesiastes/1-2 "Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of Vanities"). It is this narrow perspective that leads to despair, as opposed to a perspective that acknowledges God's sovereignty and eternal plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ecclesiastes 2:20, with its stark declaration of despair over "labour under the sun," finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Preacher's futile quest for meaning in human achievements and material wealth perfectly sets the stage for the Gospel's radical alternative. While the Preacher found only emptiness in his vast "labour," Jesus invites us to a different kind of work and rest. He declares, "[Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus' Invitation to Rest")" – a direct contrast to the wearisome `ʻâmâl` that led to despair. Our "labour" is redeemed and given eternal significance when it is done in Christ and for His glory, as Paul teaches in [Colossians 3:23-24](/colossians/3-23 "Colossians 3:23-24 - Working for the Lord"). The despair of a life lived "under the sun" is overcome by the hope found in Christ, who is the true wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom")) and in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures in Christ")). Jesus offers not transient pleasure or earthly wealth, but "living water" that satisfies eternally ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Living Water")) and a "peace that surpasses all understanding" ([Philippians 4:7](/phillipians/4-7 "Philippians 4:7 - The Peace of God")). In Him, our "labour" is not in vain, for He gives purpose, meaning, and an eternal inheritance that transcends all that is "under the sun" ([1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - Living Hope and Inheritance")).

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

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 Corinthians 1:10

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

Job 17:11

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts of my heart.

Job 17:15

And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

1 Thessalonians 3:3

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

1 Thessalonians 3:4

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.