Ecclesiastes 5:9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. King Solomon, at height of his wealth, reflects on economic systems in ancient Israel
The emotion here: weary from seeing endless cycles of economic disparity despite his own wealth
The original word
yithrôn (יִתְרוֹן) — profit, advantage, what remains after all is taken away
Why it matters
Solomon's annual gold income was 666 talents - about 25 tons of gold per year
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 5:9
Even kings depend on farmers - the wealthiest need the simplest workers to survive
Common misconceptionPeople think this verse supports capitalism or socialism. Actually, Solomon is saying ALL economic systems have the same problem - human greed makes every system feel unfair.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 5:9
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 5:9 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 5:9 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 deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include work, provision. Notable phrases: profit of earth; king profits.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 5:9 mean to you, today?
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