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?
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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.
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
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: