Ecclesiastes 2:18 - I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

Generated Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:18

What does "Ecclesiastes 2:18" mean?


This verse from Ecclesiastes expresses a deep sense of frustration and futility. It means the speaker (traditionally believed to be King Solomon) is lamenting the fact that:

He invested a great deal of effort and toil ("all my labor in which I labored under the sun") into building up wealth, accomplishments, and possessions. This "labor under the sun" is a recurring phrase in Ecclesiastes, representing earthly endeavors.
Ultimately, he cannot take any of it with him when he dies ("because I must leave it"). All his hard work will be inherited by someone else ("the man who comes after me").

The verse highlights the ephemerality of earthly gains and the speaker's anxiety about how his successor will use or value what he has built. It questions the purpose of accumulating wealth if it's merely going to be passed on to someone who may not appreciate or deserve it. It's a lament about the lack of control over one's legacy and the uncertainty of the future.