Ecclesiastes 5:11

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes?

When goods {H2896} increase {H7235}, they are increased {H7231} that eat {H398} them: and what good {H3788} is there to the owners {H1167} thereof, saving {H518} the beholding {H7207}{H7212} of them with their eyes {H5869}?

When the quantity of goods increases, so does the number of parasites consuming them; so the only advantage to the owner is that he gets to watch them do it.

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?

Ecclesiastes 5:11 offers a poignant observation on the paradoxical nature of accumulating material wealth, highlighting that its increase often brings more burdens and less personal satisfaction than anticipated. It challenges the common assumption that more possessions automatically lead to greater happiness or control.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Ecclesiastes (chapters 5-6) where the Preacher, or Qoheleth, scrutinizes the pursuit of riches and the inherent dissatisfaction that often accompanies it. It follows warnings against hasty vows and precedes further reflections on the insatiable nature of greed. The overall theme of the book is hebel, or 'vanity' – the fleeting and often frustrating nature of life 'under the sun' when lived without God's wisdom. This specific verse speaks to the practical reality that with more possessions come more responsibilities and more people seeking to consume them, diminishing the owner's personal gain. It echoes the broader message of Ecclesiastes 1:2, which declares all to be vanity.

Key Themes

  • The Paradox of Possessions: The verse highlights a counterintuitive truth: as wealth expands, so do the demands upon it. This includes the need for more staff, security, maintenance, and potentially higher taxes or charitable obligations.
  • Diminishing Returns on Enjoyment: The Preacher suggests that beyond a certain point, the personal enjoyment derived from wealth doesn't increase proportionally. The owner's "good" is limited to merely "beholding" their riches, implying a lack of true satisfaction or peace. This contrasts sharply with the common belief that more money equals more happiness.
  • The Illusion of Control: While one may 'own' the goods, the reality is that the control and benefit are diffused among many "eaters," diminishing the personal power or pleasure the owner might anticipate. This theme is consistent with the Preacher's general skepticism about the ultimate value of human toil and accumulation, as seen in Ecclesiastes 2:11.
  • Futility of Materialism: The verse subtly questions the ultimate purpose of endless accumulation if the primary benefit is merely visual appreciation rather than deep, personal fulfillment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "goods" (hōn) broadly refers to wealth, substance, or possessions. The phrase "they are increased that eat them" ('ōkheleha) literally means "its eaters" – referring to all those who consume or benefit from the wealth, such as servants, employees, business associates, tax collectors, or even those who simply depend on the wealthy individual. The owner's only "good" is "beholding" (re'ut), emphasizing a visual, rather than experiential, satisfaction. This starkly contrasts with the idea of wealth bringing deep, personal fulfillment or peace of mind.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 5:11 serves as a timeless caution against placing ultimate hope and satisfaction in material accumulation. It encourages us to:

  • Re-evaluate Priorities: Consider what truly brings lasting joy and purpose, rather than chasing endless wealth. True fulfillment often comes from relationships, spiritual growth, and meaningful contributions, not just possessions.
  • Practice Contentment: Learn to be content with what one has, understanding that more possessions do not automatically equate to more happiness or less worry. As 1 Timothy 6:6 states, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
  • Stewardship, Not Hoarding: Recognize that wealth, when acquired, brings responsibilities. Rather than merely "beholding" it, consider how it can be used for good, to bless others, and for God's glory, transforming it from a potential burden into a tool for positive impact.
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.

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • Habakkuk 2:13

    Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

  • Psalms 119:36

    Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

  • Psalms 119:37

    ¶ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.

  • Proverbs 23:5

    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:9

    Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Joshua 7:21

    When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

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