Ecclesiastes 2:26
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The verse highlights that even the "wisdom, knowledge, and joy" given to those pleasing God are ultimately understood within the larger framework of vanity. This is because the sinner's hard-earned wealth is destined for those who please God anyway, underscoring the fleeting nature of earthly accomplishments regardless of one's standing.
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Preacher has been exploring the futility of worldly pursuits, from wisdom to pleasure and wealth, concluding that all these efforts often lead to disappointment. He’s observed that even the diligent accumulation of riches by a sinner ultimately benefits those who are righteous, leading him to question the ultimate purpose of labor. This verse presents a concluding thought on God's distribution of spiritual and material blessings, directly contrasting the outcomes for those who please God versus those who don't.
What truly satisfies the soul? This verse points to specific gifts from God that bring genuine contentment, setting them apart from mere worldly gain.
The verse draws a stark contrast between two experiences of life, both of which are ultimately seen as 'vanity' or striving after wind. However, it highlights a crucial distinction: God bestows specific, life-enriching gifts upon those who please Him.
What God Gives:
These gifts are not about accumulating more, but about receiving a deeper capacity to enjoy what one has.
Why does the hard work of the wicked often feel so empty? This verse reveals the ultimate outcome of labor that lacks divine favor.
For the 'sinner' – one who does not seek to please God – life is characterized by relentless effort without lasting reward.
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The Sinner's Experience:
The ultimate irony is that this hoarded wealth is destined to be passed on to someone else, often to those who do please God. The sinner's labor becomes a means for God's providence, not a source of personal fulfillment.
Even the 'best' life, when viewed apart from God's ultimate purposes, can feel hollow. This verse concludes with a profound assessment of earthly endeavors.
The verse doesn't just condemn the sinner's life; it applies the label 'vanity' and 'striving after wind' to the whole scenario. This means:
The Limits of Earthly Life:
The Preacher is wrestling with the limits of human experience under the sun. True, abiding fulfillment isn't found in human effort or even in earthly blessings alone, but in God Himself and His eternal kingdom. The fleeting nature of all earthly pursuits, even the good ones, can feel like chasing the wind if not anchored in something eternal.
Understand the original words
tob · Hebrew Adjective
A person who finds favor in God's sight through faith, obedience, and living in accordance with His will, rather than by their own works. It signifies a relational status of being pleasing or acceptable to the Creator.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
The God of Israel, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. In this context, it emphasizes His role as the sovereign Giver and Judge who distributes gifts and determines the outcomes of human labor.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
Biblical wisdom (chokmah) is the practical application of the knowledge of God to daily life. It involves moral discernment, godly living, and the skill of navigating life in submission to God’s laws and character.
da'ath · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical sense, knowledge (da'ath) is not merely intellectual information, but an intimate, relational awareness of God and His truth. It implies a deep, experiential understanding that shapes one's character and choices.
simchah · Hebrew Noun
Biblical joy (simchah) is a deep, gladness of heart that is independent of outward circumstances. It is a gift from God that springs from a right relationship with Him and confidence in His sovereignty.
chote · Hebrew Noun
One who misses the mark of God's holy standard. Biblically, this identifies an individual whose life is characterized by rebellion or living independent of God's ways, regardless of their outward religious appearance.
hebel · Hebrew Noun
A term often signifying emptiness, vapor, or that which is fleeting/incomprehensible. It suggests that life’s endeavors, when disconnected from God’s eternal perspective, lack lasting substance or ultimate meaning.
re'ut ruach · Hebrew Phrase (Noun/Noun)
Often translated as "chasing after wind," this phrase depicts the human futility of seeking lasting satisfaction in earthly pursuits. It highlights the frustration and restlessness of attempting to gain fulfillment through temporal accomplishments.
This passage directly echoes the idea that the wicked's accumulated wealth is eventually passed on to the righteous, mirroring the central theme of Ecclesiastes 2:26 about the distribution of worldly possessions.
Matthew 6:19-21Jesus contrasts earthly treasures, which are temporary and can be lost, with heavenly treasures, offering a spiritual perspective that aligns with Ecclesiastes' observation that worldly accumulation by sinners is ultimately futile and passes to others.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse highlights the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil, which resonates with Ecclesiastes 2:26's portrayal of the sinner's 'travail' of gathering and collecting, emphasizing the destructive potential of such pursuits.
Romans 14:17This passage describes the Kingdom of God as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, providing a spiritual counterpoint to the temporal 'wisdom, knowledge, and joy' God gives to those who please Him, suggesting a higher, more lasting form of contentment.
Job 27:16-17Similar to Ecclesiastes 2:26, this passage uses vivid imagery to describe the eventual loss of wealth by the wicked, stating that the just will put on the fine clothes and divide the silver that the wicked had hoarded.
pooleEcclesiastes 2:26: "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit."
That is good in his sight; who not only seems to be good to men, as many bad men do, but is really and sincerely good. Or, who pleaseth him , as this phrase is rendered, Ecclesiastes 7:26 , and oft elsewhere; whereby he seems to intimate th…
wesleyEcclesiastes 2:26: "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit."
2:26 Wisdom - To direct him how to use his comforts aright; that so they may be blessings, and not curses to him. Joy - A thankful contented mind. To heap up - He giveth him up to insatiable desires, and wearisome labours, that he may leave…
The verse highlights that even the "wisdom, knowledge, and joy" given to those pleasing God are ultimately understood within the larger framework of vanity. This is because the sinner's hard-earned wealth is destined for those who please God anyway, underscoring the fleeting nature of earthly accomplishments regardless of one's standing.
The Preacher has been exploring the futility of worldly pursuits, from wisdom to pleasure and wealth, concluding that all these efforts often lead to disappointment. He’s observed that even the diligent accumulation of riches by a sinner ultimately benefits those who are righteous, leading him to question the ultimate purpose of labor. This verse presents a concluding thought on God's distribution of spiritual and material blessings, directly contrasting the outcomes for those who please God versus those who don't.
The Preacher has been exploring the futility of worldly pursuits, from wisdom to pleasure and wealth, concluding that all these efforts often lead to disappointment. He’s observed that even the diligent accumulation of riches by a sinner ultimately benefits those who are righteous, leading him to question the ultimate purpose of labor. This verse presents a concluding thought on God's distribution of spiritual and material blessings, directly contrasting the outcomes for those who please God versus those who don't.
"For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind." — The verse highlights that even the "wisdom, knowledge, and joy" given to those pleasing God are ultimately understood within the larger framework of vanity. This is because the sinner's hard-earned w…
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Last reviewed October 2026
