### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yithrôwn**, represented by `{{H3504}}`, is a specific term for **preeminence, gain, or profit**. It appears 10 times across 9 unique verses, with all occurrences found in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is used to explore the ultimate value or advantage of human endeavors, contrasting worldly labor with the benefits of wisdom.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H3504}}` is central to the Preacher's meditation on life's meaning. It is frequently used in rhetorical questions that challenge the notion of lasting gain from worldly toil, such as, "What **profit** hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" [[Ecclesiastes 1:3]]. This theme is repeated when considering work that is like laboring "for the wind" [[Ecclesiastes 5:16]] and when observing that all works can be "vanity and vexation of spirit" with "no **profit** under the sun" [[Ecclesiastes 2:11]]. Conversely, the term is used positively to establish the superiority of wisdom, which "excelleth folly" [[Ecclesiastes 2:13]] and is "profitable to direct" [[Ecclesiastes 10:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help frame the concept of true profit and value:
* `{{H2451}}` **chokmâh** (wisdom): This is often presented as the source of true **yithrôwn**. While labor may be futile, **wisdom** is described as having a clear advantage or being "profitable" [[Ecclesiastes 10:10]].
* `{{H1847}}` **daʻath** (knowledge): The ultimate "excellency" or **yithrôwn** belongs to **knowledge**, which possesses a unique, life-giving quality [[Ecclesiastes 7:12]].
* `{{H6738}}` **tsêl** (shade, defence): This word is used to create a comparison where both wisdom and money are a **defence**, but the **excellency** of knowledge is shown to be greater [[Ecclesiastes 7:12]].
* `{{H3701}}` **keçeph** (silver, money): Positioned as a form of worldly security, **money** is compared to wisdom, highlighting that the "excellency" of knowledge offers a superior benefit [[Ecclesiastes 7:12]].
* `{{H2421}}` **châyâh** (to live, give life): This term defines the ultimate **profit** of wisdom, which is its ability to **give life** to those who possess it, a gain that surpasses material wealth [[Ecclesiastes 7:12]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H3504}}` is tied to the central argument of Ecclesiastes. It drives a critical examination of where true, lasting value can be found.
* **Critique of Worldly Effort:** The repeated questioning of "profit" serves to deconstruct the idea that human labor, on its own, produces enduring benefit. It frames much of life "under the sun" as a cycle with no ultimate material gain ([[Ecclesiastes 1:3]], [[Ecclesiastes 3:9]]).
* **The Advantage of Wisdom:** **Yithrôwn** is the metric by which wisdom is proven superior to folly. Wisdom's "excellency" is not abstract but practical, providing a distinct advantage in life [[Ecclesiastes 2:13]].
* **Life as the Ultimate Gain:** The word is used to conclude that the greatest "excellency" is found in what preserves life. The comparison between money and knowledge concludes that the **profit** of wisdom is that it "giveth life," establishing a spiritual and existential value above any material one [[Ecclesiastes 7:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3504}}` is far more than a simple term for gain. It is a key philosophical and theological tool used exclusively in Ecclesiastes to measure the value of existence. It systematically dismantles the pursuit of profit for its own sake while simultaneously elevating wisdom as the only source of true "excellency" and "profit"—the preservation of life itself.
TRV