Ecclesiastes 2:21 Meaning and Explanation
“For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →One who works with skill and fairness must hand the result to another who never toiled for it, which the Preacher calls a great wrong.
What Does Ecclesiastes 2:21 Mean?
The Preacher states the grievance as a general case. A person labors with wisdom, knowledge, and fairness, and then must leave the whole reward to someone who did nothing to earn it. He calls this not only vapor but a great evil, so deeply does the unfairness sting.
The complaint is real, and Scripture lets it stand. But it also points beyond itself. The inheritance no one earns is, in another light, the very shape of grace, for the greatest portion of all is given to those who could never labor for it. What feels like loss under the sun becomes, in God's economy, a picture of the unearned gift He delights to give.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 2:21
What does Ecclesiastes 2:21 mean?
One who works with skill and fairness must hand the result to another who never toiled for it, which the Preacher calls a great wrong.