Ecclesiastes 3:9

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

What profit {H3504} hath he that worketh {H6213} in that wherein {H834} he laboureth {H6001}?

Complete Jewish Bible

What does the worker gain from his efforts?

Berean Standard Bible

What does the worker gain from his toil?

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ecclesiastes 3:9 presents a profound rhetorical question, immediately following the Preacher's iconic meditation on the appointed "times" for every human activity under heaven. It challenges the inherent value or lasting advantage derived from human labor and toil, particularly when viewed solely from an earthly perspective. This verse serves as a crucial pivot, inviting the reader to consider whether the ceaseless cycles of effort and activity ultimately yield any enduring "profit" or true satisfaction, thereby setting the stage for Qoheleth's ongoing exploration of life's meaning, vanity, and the ultimate sovereignty of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ecclesiastes 3:9 directly follows the famous poetic declaration in [Ecclesiastes 3](/ecclesiastes/3 "Ecclesiastes 3 - A Time for Everything"), which meticulously lists 14 pairs of antithetical actions, each representing a "time" appointed by God. This extensive catalogue of human experience, from birth to death, weeping to dancing, war to peace, culminates in a question that immediately probes the meaning of all this activity. The verse acts as a rhetorical question, serving as a pivot point from the observation of life's cycles to a deeper inquiry into their ultimate purpose and gain. It echoes the Preacher's foundational question in [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - The Preacher's Initial Question"), "What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" thus reinforcing a core theme of the book.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ecclesiastes is a work of wisdom literature, reflecting the intellectual and spiritual quest for meaning in ancient Israel. The concept of "labor" (Hebrew: *'amal*) was central to ancient life, encompassing agricultural work, craftsmanship, and the daily grind necessary for survival and prosperity. In a pre-industrial society, human effort was directly tied to sustenance and legacy. However, the Preacher's perspective is unique, moving beyond mere practical advice to philosophical inquiry. The phrase "under the sun" (found 29 times in Ecclesiastes) is a key motif, signifying a perspective limited to earthly realities, without explicit reference to divine revelation or an afterlife. This context highlights the Preacher's radical questioning of conventional wisdom regarding the inherent value of hard work, especially when disconnected from a transcendent purpose.
* **Key Themes:** The verse encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes prevalent in Ecclesiastes. Firstly, it underscores the **Futility of Human Labor** when viewed from an "under the sun" perspective. The Preacher consistently argues that without a divine orientation, much human effort yields no lasting advantage or ultimate significance, a sentiment echoed throughout the book, particularly in [Ecclesiastes 1:2](/ecclesiastes/1-2 "Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of Vanities"). Secondly, it highlights the **Search for Meaning and Lasting Gain**. The entire book is an intellectual and spiritual quest for true meaning in a world full of apparent contradictions and cycles. This question precisely articulates the core of that search: Does mere hard work produce an enduring advantage or surplus that genuinely satisfies the human soul? Finally, it points to the **Limitations of Human Endeavor**. Despite all our efforts and busy schedules, the Preacher suggests that human labor, by itself, does not break us out of the cycles of life and death or provide ultimate satisfaction, a theme also explored in [Ecclesiastes 2:18-23](/ecclesiastes/2-18-23 "Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 - The Burden of Toil").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Profit (Hebrew, _yithrôwn'_):** This term (H3504) is central to Ecclesiastes, appearing ten times. Derived from the root *yāthar*, meaning "to be left over" or "to excel," *yithrôwn* denotes a lasting advantage, a surplus, or an enduring gain that remains after effort has been expended. It implies a net benefit or a permanent positive outcome, suggesting preeminence or excellency. The Preacher's repeated questioning of "profit" highlights his skepticism about whether earthly pursuits, no matter how diligently performed, yield anything of true, enduring value.
* **Worketh (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** This verb (H6213) is a broad and common Hebrew term meaning "to do" or "to make" in its widest application. It encompasses a vast array of actions, from accomplishing tasks to bearing fruit, from preparing to performing. In this context, it refers to the general act of performing tasks, engaging in activity, or carrying out labor. While *ʻâsâh* can denote productive and even joyful work, here it is juxtaposed with *ʻâmêl*, suggesting the active engagement in the very toil that the Preacher is questioning for its ultimate benefit.
* **Laboureth (Hebrew, _ʻâmêl'_):** This noun (H6001), derived from the verb *ʻâmâl* (toil, trouble, wear out), specifically refers to arduous, burdensome, or painful toil. It describes labor that is toiling, concrete work, or even sorrowful in its outcome. It's not merely "work" but labor that often involves struggle, hardship, and a sense of futility. The use of *ʻâmêl* emphasizes the wearisome effort and the often-unrewarding nature of human striving, reinforcing the Preacher's pessimistic assessment of human endeavors "under the sun."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What profit hath he":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the core inquiry of the verse and, indeed, much of the book. The Preacher is not asking *if* people work, but *what lasting advantage* or *enduring gain* they acquire from their efforts. It's a question about ultimate value and significance, not immediate reward, probing the deeper meaning of human existence and striving.
* **"that worketh":** This refers to anyone engaged in activity, performing tasks, or expending effort. It encompasses all human endeavor, from the mundane daily chores to ambitious undertakings, linking back to the myriad activities listed in [Ecclesiastes 3](/ecclesiastes/3 "Ecclesiastes 3 - A Time for Everything"). It highlights the universal nature of human engagement in activity.
* **"in that wherein he laboureth?":** This clause further specifies the nature of the "work." The repetition and the use of *ʻâmêl* (laboureth/toil) emphasize the burdensome, often wearisome, and repetitive nature of human effort. The question is not just about work, but about the *toil itself*—does the very act of strenuous, often frustrating, labor ultimately yield a lasting benefit or merely perpetuate a cycle of futility?

#### Literary Devices
Ecclesiastes 3:9 primarily employs a **Rhetorical Question**. This device is not intended to elicit a direct answer but to provoke deep thought and emphasize a central point. The Preacher uses it to underscore the apparent lack of ultimate "profit" in human labor when viewed from a purely earthly perspective, compelling the reader to ponder the deeper meaning and purpose of their efforts. There is also an element of **Irony** or **Understatement** in the Preacher's persistent questioning of "profit." While daily labor is essential for survival and societal function, the Preacher ironically highlights its potential emptiness in the grand scheme of things, thereby challenging the conventional wisdom that hard work automatically leads to lasting gain or satisfaction. The verse also exhibits a form of **Parallelism** through the near-redundancy of "worketh" and "laboureth," which serves to intensify the focus on the toil and effort expended, thereby amplifying the weight of the question regarding its ultimate fruit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ecclesiastes 3:9 stands as a stark reminder of the limitations of human endeavor when divorced from a transcendent purpose. The Preacher's inquiry into "profit" is not a dismissal of work itself, which is often affirmed elsewhere in Scripture as a good and necessary part of human existence (e.g., [Genesis 2:15](/genesis/2-15 "Genesis 2:15 - Man to Work the Garden")). Rather, it's a profound theological statement about the insufficiency of human effort to provide ultimate meaning, lasting satisfaction, or an enduring legacy "under the sun." This verse challenges us to look beyond the immediate outcomes of our labor and consider the eternal perspective, recognizing that true "profit" or ultimate gain is found not in the accumulation of earthly achievements or possessions, but in a right relationship with God and obedience to His commands, as the Preacher ultimately concludes in [Ecclesiastes 12:13-14](/ecclesiastes/12-13-14 "The Conclusion of the Whole Matter").

* [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "The Preacher's Initial Question on Profit")
* [Proverbs 14:23](/proverbs/14-23 "In All Toil There Is Profit")
* [Psalm 127:1-2](/psalms/127-1-2 "Unless the Lord Builds the House")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ecclesiastes 3:9, though initially sounding pessimistic, offers a crucial invitation to self-reflection and a re-evaluation of our priorities. In a world that often equates busyness with importance and material gain with success, the Preacher's question forces us to pause and consider the ultimate purpose and lasting value of our labor. Are we merely caught in a relentless cycle of activity, striving for a "profit" that can never truly satisfy the soul or transcend the brevity of life "under the sun"? This verse encourages us to shift our perspective from merely accumulating earthly advantages to seeking eternal significance. It challenges us to integrate our work with a deeper, God-given purpose, ensuring that our efforts contribute to something beyond ourselves—something that endures. By recognizing the inherent limitations of human toil, we are freed from the burden of finding ultimate meaning solely in our achievements and instead directed towards the One who alone can provide true and lasting "profit."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is the ultimate "profit" I am seeking in my daily work and life's endeavors?**
* **How does my current understanding of "success" align or conflict with the Preacher's questioning of lasting gain "under the sun"?**
* **In what ways can I reorient my labor and efforts to find deeper, more enduring meaning beyond temporal achievements?**
* **How does this verse challenge me to rely more on God's sovereignty and less on my own striving for satisfaction?**

### FAQ
**Does Ecclesiastes 3:9 mean that all work is meaningless?**

Answer: No, Ecclesiastes 3:9 does not mean that all work is inherently meaningless. Rather, it questions the *ultimate profit* or *lasting advantage* that human labor yields when viewed solely from an earthly perspective, "under the sun." The Preacher is challenging the notion that hard work, by itself, can provide ultimate satisfaction, meaning, or an enduring legacy that transcends the cycles of life and death. The book as a whole, including the Preacher's final conclusion in [Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "The Whole Duty of Man"), suggests that true meaning and profit are found when human labor is performed in the context of fearing God and keeping His commandments. It's a critique of work as an end in itself, not work as a God-given activity.

**How does this verse relate to the "time for everything" passage (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)?**

Answer: Ecclesiastes 3:9 functions as a direct rhetorical response to the preceding poetic list of "times" in [Ecclesiastes 3](/ecclesiastes/3 "Ecclesiastes 3 - A Time for Everything"). After presenting a comprehensive catalogue of human activities and experiences, the Preacher immediately asks, "What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?" This question serves as a pivot, shifting the focus from the observation of life's cyclical nature to an inquiry into the ultimate value of all those activities. It implies that while there is an appointed time for every action, the mere performance of these actions, without a higher purpose or divine orientation, may not yield any lasting or satisfying gain. The question challenges the reader to look beyond the immediate activity to its enduring significance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ecclesiastes 3:9, with its poignant question about the "profit" of human labor, finds its ultimate answer and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Preacher's lament about the futility of toil "under the sun" highlights humanity's desperate need for a lasting gain that transcends the perishable nature of earthly achievements. In Christ, this "profit" is not merely an advantage but eternal life and a purpose that endures beyond the grave. While human labor often feels like a wearisome cycle leading to no ultimate satisfaction, Jesus invites us to a different kind of labor, one that yields eternal fruit. He declares, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Jesus' Invitation to Rest")). Our work, when done "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" ([Colossians 3:23](/colossians/3-23 "Work Heartily for the Lord")), gains eternal significance because it is integrated into God's redemptive plan. The "profit" that eluded Qoheleth's earthly search is found in Christ's finished work on the cross, which secured for us an inheritance that is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "An Incorruptible Inheritance")). Our labor in the Lord is "not in vain" ([1 Corinthians 15:58](/1_corinthians/15-58 "Our Labor in the Lord Is Not in Vain")) because Christ has transformed the very nature of work, infusing it with divine purpose and an eternal reward that far surpasses any earthly "profit."

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 1:3

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

Proverbs 14:23

¶ In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

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 2:23

For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

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.

Matthew 16:26

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?