Lexical Summary kishron: Skill, Success, Ability Original Word: כִּשִׁרוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance equity, good, right From kasher; success, advantage -- equity, good, right. see HEBREW kasher NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kasher Definition skill, success NASB Translation advantage (1), skill (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כִּשְׁרוֺן noun [masculine] skill, success; — 1 skill, בְּחָכְמָה וּבְדַעַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֺן Ecclesiastes 2:21; construct כָּלכִּֿשְׁרוֺן הַמַּעֲשֶׂה Ecclesiastes 4:4 all skill of work = skilful work. 2 success, profit, וּמַהכִּֿשְׁרוֺן לִבְעָלָיהָ Ecclesiastes 5:10 and what profit have the owners of it ? Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Biblical Usage The noun כִּשִׁרוֹן (kishron) captures the idea of ability that excels—skill, success, or advantage that arises from competence. All three occurrences are confined to Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher repeatedly weighs the value of human endeavor “under the sun.” Because every use is paired with reflections on toil, labour, or wealth, kishron functions as a thematic counterpoint: even the highest level of proficiency fails to guarantee lasting satisfaction apart from a God-centered perspective. Occurrences in Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 2:21 contrasts the skilful (kishron) labour of a wise man with the possibility that its fruits will pass to an unworthy heir: “For a man may labor with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, yet he must leave his portion to one who has not toiled for it. This too is futile and a great evil”. The term highlights excellence that cannot secure the permanence of its rewards. Ecclesiastes 4:4 links kishron with competition and envy: “I have seen that all labor and every skillful work come from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind”. Here ability becomes a catalyst for rivalry, exposing the vanity of a success ethic that is horizontal rather than Godward. Ecclesiastes 5:11 observes that increased goods attract dependents, diminishing the practical advantage of skill-gained wealth: “As goods increase, so do those who consume them; and what benefit is there to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?”. The unspoken presence of kishron in the immediate context (5:10–12) underscores how skill-based prosperity can be swallowed by economic and social realities. Historical and Wisdom Context In the ancient Near East, craftsmanship and administrative expertise were prized, often celebrated in royal inscriptions. Ecclesiastes acknowledges this cultural esteem yet subverts it by framing kishron within life’s transience. Solomon’s era—marked by monumental building projects and international trade—provides a backdrop where mastery was visibly rewarded, making the Preacher’s conclusion all the more striking: even pinnacle human capability is “vanity and chasing after the wind” when severed from eternal considerations. Theological Significance 1. Divine Giver of Ability: Scripture consistently attributes skill to the Creator (Exodus 31:3; James 1:17). Ecclesiastes assumes this foundation, even while emphasizing the limits of what such God-given ability can secure in a fallen world. Practical Ministry Insights • Vocational Stewardship: Encourage believers to cultivate excellence while remembering that significance flows from serving Christ, not from the acclaim of men. New Testament Resonance While kishron itself does not appear in the Greek Scriptures, its themes echo in texts like Colossians 3:23—“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men”—which reorients skill toward divine reward. Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) likewise affirms ability as a stewardship entrusted by the Master, evaluated eschatologically. Pastoral Reflection Ecclesiastes’ treatment of kishron tempers worldly definitions of success. A church or individual may possess remarkable organizational or rhetorical skill, yet without cultivating a fear of the Lord (Ecclesiastes 12:13) such ability devolves into self-referential toil. True fulfilment arises when skill serves the kingdom, points beyond itself, and finds rest in the sufficiency of Christ. Forms and Transliterations וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן ובכשרון כִּשְׁר֣וֹן כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ כשרון kiš·rō·wn kishRon kišrōwn ū·ḇə·ḵiš·rō·wn ūḇəḵišrōwn uvechishRonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ecclesiastes 2:21 HEB: בְּחָכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א NAS: knowledge and skill, then he gives KJV: and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man INT: wisdom knowledge and skill to one not Ecclesiastes 4:4 Ecclesiastes 5:11 3 Occurrences |
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