The produce of the earth is taken by all;This phrase highlights the universal dependence on the earth's produce. In biblical times, agriculture was the foundation of the economy, and everyone, from the common laborer to the wealthy landowner, relied on the land for sustenance. This reflects the creation narrative in Genesis, where God provides the earth's resources for humanity's use. The idea that the earth's produce is for all can be seen in the laws of gleaning (
Leviticus 19:9-10), which allowed the poor and the foreigner to gather leftover crops, emphasizing God's provision and care for all people.
the king himself profits from the fields.
This part of the verse underscores the hierarchical structure of ancient societies, where even the king, the highest authority, is dependent on the agricultural output of the land. It reflects the economic reality that the prosperity of a nation, including its leaders, is tied to the productivity of its fields. Historically, kings would levy taxes on agricultural produce, which was a primary source of revenue for the kingdom. This can be seen in the story of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 41), where the Pharaoh's wealth and power were directly linked to the management of the land's produce during the years of plenty and famine. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God over all creation, as even the most powerful earthly rulers are subject to the natural order established by God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Preacher (Qoheleth)Traditionally understood to be Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, who is attributed as the author of Ecclesiastes. He reflects on the meaning of life and the pursuit of fulfillment.
2.
The KingRepresents authority and governance, highlighting the hierarchical structure of society where even the highest authority benefits from the labor of the land.
3.
The Earth/FieldsSymbolizes the source of sustenance and wealth, emphasizing the agrarian context of ancient Israel where agriculture was central to life and economy.
Teaching Points
The Universality of ProvisionThe earth's produce is meant for all, reminding us of God's provision and the shared blessing of creation. We should be mindful of how we use and distribute resources.
The Role of AuthorityEven those in positions of power are dependent on the basic provisions of the earth. This should instill humility and a sense of responsibility in leaders to care for the land and its people.
Stewardship and GratitudeRecognize that all we have is ultimately from God. We are called to be good stewards of the earth's resources, using them wisely and with gratitude.
Contentment and TrustTrust in God's provision rather than in material wealth. Contentment comes from recognizing that God provides for our needs through the earth's abundance.
Community and EquityThe produce of the earth is for all, suggesting a call to ensure equitable distribution and care for those in need within our communities.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:9?
2.How does Ecclesiastes 5:9 emphasize God's provision for all through the land's produce?
3.What role does contentment play in understanding Ecclesiastes 5:9's message on wealth?
4.How can we apply Ecclesiastes 5:9 to our stewardship of resources today?
5.How does Ecclesiastes 5:9 connect with Jesus' teachings on wealth in Matthew 6?
6.In what ways can Ecclesiastes 5:9 guide our perspective on material possessions?
7.What does Ecclesiastes 5:9 mean by "the profit of the land"?
8.How does Ecclesiastes 5:9 relate to the concept of divine providence?
9.Why is the king mentioned in Ecclesiastes 5:9 significant in understanding authority?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 5?
11.What does 'a time to plant and uproot' mean?
12.In Ecclesiastes 9:5, if the dead truly 'know nothing,' how does that square with verses elsewhere suggesting an active afterlife?
13.Why does Ecclesiastes say the dead are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5), contradicting Jesus' teaching about Hell?
14.What evidence supports Solomon as the author of Song of Solomon 5, and if lacking, why attribute these verses to him at all?What Does Ecclesiastes 5:9 Mean
The produce of the earth• From the first page of Scripture, harvest is described as God’s gracious gift to humanity.Genesis 1:29: “I have given you every seed-bearing plant…”;Psalm 104:14 – 15 celebrates that He “causes the grass to grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate.”
• The Preacher of Ecclesiastes is reminding us that the land itself, under God’s hand, is the primary source of wealth and sustenance.
• Because the earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1), its yields are not random; they testify to His faithfulness (Acts 14:17).
Is taken by all• Whether rich or poor, righteous or wicked, everyone draws life from the same soil. Jesus notes the impartiality of God’s provision inMatthew 5:45.
• Old Testament gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9–10) showed that produce was meant to reach beyond landowners to the needy, underscoring shared dependence.
• Ecclesiastes echoesProverbs 27:18, where both caretaker and master alike “eat the fruit” of the fig tree—nobody is exempt from relying on the common bounty.
• Work is assumed: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Yet the same verse assumes food remains the universal necessity.
The king himself• Even the highest authority must live off what the soil provides. Solomon’s own table required vast daily provisions (1 Kings 4:22–23).
• This levels human status: princes and paupers alike are mere recipients of God’s earthbound generosity (Psalm 146:3–4).
• By including “the king himself,” the verse subtly rebukes pride.Isaiah 40:6–7 reminds rulers, “All flesh is grass… the grass withers.”
Profits from the fields• Royal prosperity grows from the same furrows plowed by commoners. Taxes, tribute, and commerce all trace back to harvest (1 Samuel 8:14–15;Romans 13:6).
• A well-ordered kingdom encourages agriculture, for “abundant crops come by the strength of the ox” (Proverbs 14:4). Conversely, oppression that crushes farmers ultimately starves the throne (Proverbs 28:16).
• The line therefore counsels wise governance: protect and steward the fields, and both people and king flourish together (2 Chronicles 31:5).
summaryEcclesiastes 5:9 teaches that God’s earth produces wealth for everyone without exception—peasant and monarch alike. Our shared dependence on the land humbles the proud, dignifies honest labor, and urges leaders to guard the sources of provision. Recognizing this common reliance turns hearts from envy or oppression toward gratitude, stewardship, and justice under the sovereign Provider.
(9)
Is served by.--Or,
is servant to.Many eminent interpreters connect this verse with what precedes, and translate, "and on the whole the profit of the land is a king devoted to agriculture," an observation which it is hard to clear of the charge of irrelevance. I prefer, as in our version, to connect with the following verses, and the best explanation I can give of the connection of the paragraph is that it contains a consideration intended to mitigate the difficulty felt at the sight of riches acquired by oppression, namely, that riches add little to the real happiness of the possessors.
Verse 9. - It has been much debated whether this verse should be connected with the preceding or the following paragraph. The Vulgate takes it with the preceding verse,
Et insuper universae terrae rex imperat servienti; so the Septuagint; and this seems most natural, avarice, wealth, and its evils in private life being treated of in vers. 10 and many following.
Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. The writer seems to be contrasting the misery of Oriental despotism, above spoken of, with the happiness of a country whose king was content to enrich himself, not by war, rapine, and oppression, but by the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, by cherishing the natural productions of his country, and encouraging his people in developing its resources. Such was Uzziah, who" loved husbandry" (
2 Chronicles 26:10); and in Solomon's own time the arts of peace greatly flourished. There is much difficulty in interpreting the verse. The Vulgate rendering, "And moreover the King of the whole earth rules over his servant," probably means that God governs the king. But the present Hebrew text does not support this translation. The Septuagint has,
Καὶπερίσσεια γῆς ἑπὶ παντί ἐστὶ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ἀγροῦεἰργασμένου, which makes more difficulties. "Also the abundance of the earth is for every one, or upon every thing; the king (is dependent on) the cultivated land, or, there is a king to the land when cultivated,"
i.
e. the throne itself depends on the due cultivation of the country. Or, removing the comma, "The profit of the land in everything is a king of the cultivated field." The Hebrew may safely be rendered, "But the profit of a land in all things is a king devoted to the field,"
i.
e. who loves and fosters agriculture. It is difficult to suppose that Solomon himself wrote this sentence, however we may interpret it. According to the Authorized Version, the idea is that the profit of the soil extends to every rank of life; even the king, who seems superior to all, is dependent upon the industry of the people, and the favorable produce of the land. He could not be unjust and oppressive without injuring his revenues in the end. Ben-Sirs sings the praises of agriculture: "Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry., which the Most High hath ordained" (Ecclus. 7:15). Agriculture held a very prominent position in the Mosaic commonwealth. The enactments concerning the firstfruits, the sabbatical year, landmarks, the non-alienation of inheritances, etc., tended to give peculiar importance to cultivation of the soil. Cicero's praise of agriculture is often quoted. Thus ('De Senect.,' 15.
sqq.; 'De Off.,' 1:42):" Omninm return, ex quibus aliquid acquiritur, nihil est agricultura melius, nihil uberius, nihil dulcius, nihil heroine libero dignius."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The produceוְיִתְר֥וֹן(wə·yiṯ·rō·wn)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3504:Preeminence, gainof the earthאֶ֖רֶץ(’e·reṣ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landis taken by all;בַּכֹּ֣ל(bak·kōl)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe king himselfמֶ֥לֶךְ(me·leḵ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A kingprofitsנֶעֱבָֽד׃(ne·‘ĕ·ḇāḏ)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslavefrom the fields.לְשָׂדֶ֖ה(lə·śā·ḏeh)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704:Field, land
Links
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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:9 Moreover the profit of the earth (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) 
