Ecclesiastes 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Preacher has seen a grievous wrong: wealth hoarded by its owner that ends up harming the very one who clings to it.
What Does Ecclesiastes 5:13 Mean?
Speaking again as one who has observed life closely "under the sun," the Preacher names a painful pattern. Riches held tightly, guarded for the owner's own sake, can turn against him.
What was meant to secure can wound; what was stored up for safety becomes a source of grief. Wealth is not condemned, but the grasping love of it is shown to be self-destructive. The verse calls the heart to hold possessions loosely and to use them rather than to be used by them, lest the treasure we cling to become the very thing that hurts us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 5:13
What does Ecclesiastes 5:13 mean?
The Preacher has seen a grievous wrong: wealth hoarded by its owner that ends up harming the very one who clings to it.