Prediger 5:15

15 Wie er nackt ist von seine Mutter Leibe gekommen, so fährt er wieder hin, wie er gekommen ist, und nimmt nichts mit sich von seiner Arbeit in seiner Hand, wenn er hinfährt.

Prediger 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return
to go as he came
This may be understood either of the covetous rich man, or of his son; and that supposing what is before said should not be the case of either of them, but they should possess their substance as long as they live; yet, when they come to die, they will be stripped of them all; of their gold and silver, their plate and jewels, and rich household furniture; of their cattle and possessions, farms and estates, which are no longer theirs; and even of their very clothes, and be as naked as they were when they came into the world; and which is indeed the case of every man, ( Job 1:21 ) ; and is used as an argument, and a very forcible one, against covetousness; and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his
hand;
nothing of his substance, which he has got by his labour, and hoarded up with great care; not the least portion of it can he carry away with him when he dies; not any of his jewels, nor bags of gold and silver; and if any of these should be put into his grave, which has been sometimes done at the interment of great personages, these are of no manner of use and service to him, either to comfort and refresh his body, or to save his soul from hell, and procure it an entrance into the heavenly glory; see ( 1 Timothy 6:7 ) ( Proverbs 11:4 ) . The Targum allegorizes this in a very orthodox way, not very usual, in favour of original sin, and against the doctrine of merit;

``as he goes out of his mother's womb naked, without a covering, and without any good; so he shall return to go to the house of his grave, indigent of merit, as he came into this world; and no good reward shall he receive by his labour, to take with him into the world to which he goes, that it may be for merit in his hand.''

Prediger 5:15 In-Context

13 Es ist ein böses Übel, das ich sah unter der Sonne: Reichtum, behalten zum Schaden dem, der ihn hat.

14 Denn der Reiche kommt um mit großem Jammer; und so er einen Sohn gezeugt hat, dem bleibt nichts in der Hand.

15 Wie er nackt ist von seine Mutter Leibe gekommen, so fährt er wieder hin, wie er gekommen ist, und nimmt nichts mit sich von seiner Arbeit in seiner Hand, wenn er hinfährt.

16 Das ist ein böses Übel, daß er hinfährt, wie er gekommen ist. Was hilft's ihm denn, daß er in den Wind gearbeitet hat? {~}

17 Sein Leben lang hat er im Finstern gegessen und in großem Grämen und Krankheit und Verdruß.