Ecclesiastes 5:15
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The verse emphasizes that nothing we gain through our toil can be carried with us. It’s not just about wealth; it’s about every effort, every possession, every achievement — all will be left behind, just as we arrived with nothing from our mother's womb.
As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger section discussing the vanity of riches and the inability to enjoy them. The writer has just described how wealth can bring anxiety, sleepless nights, and ultimately become a burden rather than a blessing. Immediately before this, he warns that riches can be taken away by misfortune or passed to heirs who won't appreciate them.
Ever wonder what happens to all the stuff we accumulate? This verse gives us a stark, unvarnished answer. It's a reminder that our earthly journey has a definite end, and what we possess doesn't accompany us.
Ecclesiastes confronts us with a fundamental truth about life: our existence begins and ends with nothing in our hands.
Stripped Bare
As the verse vividly states, 'As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came.' This isn't just about physical nakedness; it speaks to the complete absence of any worldly possessions, status, or achievements we might have clung to. Our very first moments in this world were without any material goods, and our final moments will be the same.
The End of Toil
Furthermore, the passage emphasizes that our life's work, the sweat of our brow, and all the wealth we've gathered cannot be taken with us. 'Shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.' No matter how hard we've worked or how much we've gained, the destination is the same for everyone – an exit with empty hands. It's a powerful equalizer, leveling kings and paupers alike at the grave.
We spend so much energy acquiring, protecting, and enjoying our possessions. But what if the ultimate 'profit' of our labor isn't what we can hold onto?
Ecclesiastes consistently questions the ultimate value of accumulating wealth for its own sake, especially when it's viewed through the lens of eternity.
Labor in Vain?
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This verse suggests that if our toil primarily serves the purpose of amassing wealth that we can never carry beyond death, then it can be seen as 'labor for the wind' – a pursuit that ultimately yields no lasting personal gain. The emphasis isn't necessarily on the sinfulness of work itself, but on the purpose behind it.
A Shadowy Existence
When our heart is set on hoarding, our lives can become a shadowed existence, filled with anxiety rather than joy. As the commentary notes, 'He eats in darkness – He hath no comfort in his estate, but even when he eats, he doth it with anxiety and discontent.' The true profit of our labor isn't found in the accumulation itself, but in how it's used and the peace it brings, not the stress it causes.
Understand the original words
'amal · Hebrew Noun
The physical effort, hardship, or struggle exerted in human activity. In the biblical narrative, it is often associated with the consequences of the Fall, characterizing the strain and burdensome nature of work.
'arom · Hebrew Adjective
A state of total lack or emptiness. Biblically, it represents the reality that humans arrive into the world without possessions and depart in the same condition, highlighting the transient nature of material wealth.
This passage directly echoes Ecclesiastes 5:15, with Job stating, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' It highlights the same profound truth about our earthly possessions and our ultimate return to God with nothing.
Psalm 49:17This psalm offers a similar perspective, warning that when a person dies, they cannot take their wealth with them: 'For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not go down after him.' This reinforces the vanity of amassing riches without considering eternal value.
1 Timothy 6:7Paul provides a direct New Testament parallel to the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, stating, 'For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it.' This is a clear instruction to focus on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.
Luke 12:16-21Jesus' parable of the rich fool directly illustrates the folly of accumulating wealth for oneself without regard for God. The man dies unexpectedly and cannot take his riches with him, making his earthly hoarding ultimately meaningless, just as Ecclesiastes describes.
pooleEcclesiastes 5:15: "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand."
Return to go into the womb or belly of the earth, the common mother of all mankind. See Poole "Job 1:21" , See Poole "Ecclesiastes 12:7 ". And return to go , is put for return and go ; and going is here put for dying , as Job 16:22 Psalm 39:13 . This is another vanity: if his estate be neither lost, nor kept to his hurt, b…
clarkeEcclesiastes 5:15: "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand."
As he came forth - However it may be, he himself shall carry nothing with him into the eternal world. If he die worth millions, those millions are dead to him for ever; so he has had no real profit from all his labors, cares, anxieties, and vast property!
The verse emphasizes that nothing we gain through our toil can be carried with us. It’s not just about wealth; it’s about every effort, every possession, every achievement — all will be left behind, just as we arrived with nothing from our mother's womb.
This verse is part of a larger section discussing the vanity of riches and the inability to enjoy them. The writer has just described how wealth can bring anxiety, sleepless nights, and ultimately become a burden rather than a blessing. Immediately before this, he warns that riches can be taken away by misfortune or passed to heirs who won't appreciate them.
This verse is part of a larger section discussing the vanity of riches and the inability to enjoy them. The writer has just described how wealth can bring anxiety, sleepless nights, and ultimately become a burden rather than a blessing. Immediately before this, he warns that riches can be taken away by misfortune or passed to heirs who won't appreciate them.
"As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand." — The verse emphasizes that nothing we gain through our toil can be carried with us. It’s not just about wealth; it’s about every effort, every possession, every achievement — all will be left behind…
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Last reviewed October 2026
