### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâmal**, represented by `{{H5998}}`, is a primitive root that means **to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness**. Appearing **11 times** in **11 unique verses**, this term specifically denotes a strenuous, burdensome, and often wearisome form of labor, capturing the essence of exhausting effort.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H5998}}` is central to exploring the value and futility of human exertion, particularly in the book of Ecclesiastes. The word is frequently tied to the concept of toiling "under the sun," a phrase that frames labor within an earthly, and often limited, perspective. This is seen in the recurring question of what lasting profit a person gains from their efforts [[Ecclesiastes 1:3]]. The labor itself can be declared "vanity" when assessed by its tangible outcomes [[Ecclesiastes 2:11]]. The scope of this toil is not merely physical; a wise man can **labour** `{{H5998}}` to understand God's work and still not find it [[Ecclesiastes 8:17]]. A crucial theological point is made in [[Psalms 127:1]], which states that unless the LORD builds the house, the builders **labour** `{{H5998}}` in vain.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of this concept of toil:
* `{{H5999}}` **ʻâmâl** (toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry...): This noun is the direct product of the verb `{{H5998}}`. The terms are used together to intensify the meaning, as seen in the phrase "on the **labour** `{{H5999}}` that I had **laboured** `{{H5998}}` to do" [[Ecclesiastes 2:11]].
* `{{H6001}}` **ʻâmêl** (toiling; concretely, a laborer...): This word identifies the one who performs the toil. It links the person directly to their work, as in, "He that **laboureth** `{{H6001}}` **laboureth** `{{H5998}}` for himself" [[Proverbs 16:26]].
* `{{H3504}}` **yithrôwn** (preeminence, gain; better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able)): This term is consistently used with `{{H5998}}` in Ecclesiastes to question the ultimate benefit derived from strenuous work, asking what **profit** `{{H3504}}` one has from all their labor ([[Ecclesiastes 1:3]], 5:16).
* `{{H1129}}` **bânâh** (to build): This verb is set in parallel to `{{H5998}}` in [[Psalms 127:1]], highlighting that even constructive acts like building are considered vain labor unless undertaken with the LORD's involvement.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5998}}` is significant, raising fundamental questions about work, reward, and divine sovereignty.
* **The Futility of Toil Apart from God:** The clearest expression of this theme is in [[Psalms 127:1]]. Any effort, whether to **build** `{{H1129}}` a house or **keep** `{{H8104}}` a city, is rendered pointless without God's blessing and participation. This establishes that human work does not have inherent, lasting value on its own.
* **The Problem of Earthly Legacy:** Ecclesiastes uses `{{H5998}}` to explore the enigma of reward. A person might **labour** wisely, only to leave the fruits of that labor to someone who has not toiled at all, a reality deemed "vanity and a great evil" ([[Ecclesiastes 2:21]], [[Ecclesiastes 2:19]]).
* **Divine Sovereignty over Human Effort:** The word emphasizes the limits of human endeavor. In [[Jonah 4:10]], God points out that Jonah had pity on a gourd for which he did "not **laboured**," contrasting human attachment with God's sovereign creative power. Similarly, human wisdom cannot grasp divine work, even if a man **labours** `{{H5998}}` diligently to seek it out [[Ecclesiastes 8:17]].
### Summary
In summary, **ʻâmal** `{{H5998}}` is far more than a simple word for work. It conveys a deep sense of severe and wearisome toil, often laden with philosophical questions about its purpose and value. Heavily featured in Ecclesiastes, it drives an exploration into the nature of human effort "under the sun" and its potential for vanity. Ultimately, the word serves to reinforce a core biblical principle: that human labor, however arduous, finds its true meaning, profit, and success only when it is aligned with the sovereign purpose and blessing of God.
TRV