Ecclesiastes 2:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Preacher deliberately gives his heart over to despair concerning all his toil.
What Does Ecclesiastes 2:20 Mean?
This is the turning of the heart at its lowest. The speaker sets himself, almost intentionally, to despair of all the labor he poured out under the sun. He stops expecting his work to yield the lasting meaning he sought from it.
Strangely, this surrender is the doorway to the chapter's resolution. When the heart finally lets go of demanding ultimate profit from its own toil, it is ready to receive what it could never earn. The despair of self-made meaning clears the way for the next verses, where good is found not in achievement but as a gift from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 in the Original Language
ya'ash (יָאַשׁ), 'despair' -- to give up hope, to let go of expectation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 2:20
What does Ecclesiastes 2:20 mean?
The Preacher deliberately gives his heart over to despair concerning all his toil.