Ecclesiastes 5:14Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. Solomon reflecting on wealthy fathers who died penniless, leaving their sons with nothing...
The emotion here: heartbroken watching fathers realize they're leaving their children nothing of value
The original word
'âven (אָוֶן) — misfortune, but specifically calamity that reveals life's fragility
Why it matters
In ancient times, a man's wealth was his sons' only inheritance and social security
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 5:14
The tragedy isn't just losing money — it's a father realizing he has nothing of lasting value to pass on
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about bad investments or poor financial planning. Solomon is showing that even successful wealth accumulation ends in emptiness because we can't take it with us.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 5:14
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 5:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 5:14 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include loss, inheritance. Notable phrases: riches perish; nothing in hand.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 5:14 mean to you, today?
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