What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:17? Moreover The word signals that what follows is a further consequence of trusting in fleeting riches rather than in the Lord. Solomon has just observed that a man who hoards wealth “is deprived of enjoyment” (Ecclesiastes 5:13–16), and now he adds another layer of misery. Like the warning in Proverbs 23:4-5 that riches “sprout wings,” this “moreover” stacks yet one more burden on the soul who lives for stuff rather than for God (see also 1 Timothy 6:9-10). all his days This is not an occasional slump; it is the steady state of a life disconnected from its Maker. Psalm 90:9 laments, “All our days pass away in Your wrath,” underscoring that apart from divine fellowship every sunrise simply restarts the same empty loop (Ecclesiastes 6:3-5). he eats Eating should be one of life’s basic joys—“everyone should eat and drink and find satisfaction” as a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 3:13). Here, even the daily meal is hollow. The apostle later teaches, “Whether you eat or drink…do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). When the glory of God is absent, even bite-sized routines become burdens. in darkness Darkness pictures separation from light, truth, and hope (Proverbs 4:19). Jesus warns, “Walk while you have the Light…so that darkness will not overtake you” (John 12:35-36). This man’s table is set in gloom; he may have candles on the wall, but his heart dines in shadow. with much sorrow Sorrow multiplies when life’s center is self. Psalm 32:10 contrasts “many sorrows” for the wicked with the Lord’s steadfast love for the trusting. Even worldly grief “produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10) because it never resolves into repentance and joy. sickness The Hebrew mindset links body and soul; spiritual malaise often drips into physical symptoms (Job 7:5). Covenant curses warned that rebellion would bring “extraordinary plagues” (Deuteronomy 28:59-60). While not every illness is a direct judgment, Solomon notes that chronic discontent can gnaw away at health. and anger Bitterness is the final spice on this miserable plate. “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath” (Psalm 37:8), yet the joyless heart erupts in irritability. When idols fail to satisfy, frustration brews (Ephesians 4:31), scorching every relationship around the table. summary Ecclesiastes 5:17 paints the portrait of a person who lives for wealth and ends up eating life’s daily bread in pitch-black gloom, weighed down by sorrow, undermined by sickness, and boiling in anger. The verse warns that prosperity without God breeds perpetual misery. Real contentment comes only by receiving everyday gifts—food, work, relationships—as gracious tokens from the Creator and enjoying them in the light of His presence. |
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