Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:22

For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun?

22. the vexation of his heart ] The word differs from that for which “ feeding on wind ” has been suggested, but is akin to it, and has been, as in Ecc 1:17, rendered by meditation. Here, perhaps, “ corroding care ” would best convey its meaning.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 22. For what hath man of all his laborer] Labour of body, disappointment of hope, and vexation of heart, have been all my portion.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

What comfort or benefit remains to any man after this short and frail life is once ended? or, what advantage hath he by all his labours above him who never laboured, and yet enjoyeth all the fruits of his labours?

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

22. Same sentiment as in Ec2:21, interrogatively.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart?…. What profit has he by it, when there is so much vexation in it, both in getting it, and in the thought of leaving it to others? What advantage is it to him, when it is all acquired for and possessed by another; and especially of what use is it to him after his death? Even of all

wherein he hath laboured under the sun? the Targum adds, “in this world”; though he has been labouring all his days, yet there is not one thing he has got by his labour that is of any real advantage to him, or can yield him any solid comfort and satisfaction, or bring him true happiness, or lead him to it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

“For what has man of all his labour, and the endeavours of his heart with which he wearies himself under the sun? All his days are certainly in sorrows, and his activity in grief; his heart resteth not even in the night: also this is vain.” The question literally is: What is (comes forth, results) to a man from all his labour; for “to become, to be, to fall to, happen to,” is the fundamental idea of (whence here , , as at Neh 6:6, ) or , the root signification of which is deorsum ferri, cadere , and then accidere, fieri , whence , eagerness precipitating itself upon anything ( vid., under Pro 10:3), or object.: fall, catastrophe, destruction. Instead of , there is here to be written ,

(Note: Thus according to tradition, in H, J, P, vid., Michlol 47 b, 215 b, 216 a; vid., also Norzi.)

as at Ecc 3:18 . The question looks forward to a negative answer. What comes out of his labour for man? Nothing comes of it, nothing but disagreeableness. This negative contained in the question is established by , 23 a. The form of the clause, “all his days are sorrows,” viz., as to their condition, follows the scheme, “the porch was 20 cubits,” 2Ch 3:4, viz., in measurement; or, “their feast is music and wine,” Isa 5:12, viz., in its combination ( vid., Philippi’s Stat. Const. p. 90ff.). The parallel clause is , not ; for the final syllable, or that having the accent on the penult, immediately preceding the Athnach -word, takes Kametz, as e.g., Lev 18:5; Pro 25:3; Isa 65:17 (cf. Olsh. 224, p. 440).

(Note: But cf. also with Zakeph Katan , 2Ki 5:17; with Tiphcha , Isa 26:19; and under Psa 45:10.)

Many interpreters falsely explain: at aegritudo est velut quotidiana occupatio ejus . For the sake of the parallelism, (from , to weary oneself with labour, or also to strive, aim; vid., Psalmen, ii. 390) is subj. not pred.: his endeavour is grief, i.e., brings only grief or vexation with it.

Even in the night he has no rest; for even then, though he is not labouring, yet he is inwardly engaged about his labour and his plans. And this possession, acquired with such labour and restlessness, he must leave to others; for equally with the fool he fails under the stroke of death: he himself has no enjoyment, others have it; dying, he must leave all behind him, – threefold , Ecc 2:17, Ecc 2:21, Ecc 2:23, and thus .

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

22. What hath man That is, man has nothing nothing solid and abiding when the accumulations of a working life pass from his name and lineage.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ecc 2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Ver. 22. For what hath a man of all his labour. ] What makes he of it, everything reckoned? See Ecc 1:3 . What takes he with him when he dies, more than a poor winding sheet? As that great Emperor of Egypt caused to be proclaimed at his funeral, that that shirt of his, there hanged up for the purpose, was all that he now had of all his labour and great achievements. Saladin the mighty monarch of the East is gone, and hath taken no more with him than what you see, said the bare priest that went before the bier. a See Trapp on “ 1Ti 6:7 “

a Carion. Chron.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)