Ecclesiastes 5:14 Meaning: When Your Savings Disappear
Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
And that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand!
or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Meaning in one sentence
Ecclesiastes 5:14 shows how wealth can vanish through misfortune, leaving nothing for family. It exposes the folly of building a legacy on money.
Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 5 is a long look at the emptiness of chasing riches. The Preacher (traditionally Solomon) had seen it all, money, power, pleasure, and he kept coming back to the same point: it never satisfies. In verses 10 through 17, he focuses on a particular kind of pain: wealth that is hoarded and then lost. Verse 14 sits right in the middle of that picture. A person works hard, saves up, and intends to leave something for a son. Then a misfortune hits. The money is gone, the son gets nothing, and all that effort amounts to dust. This is not about being lazy or sinful. It is about the uncertainty that hangs over every earthly treasure.
Key Words
The phrase “perish by misfortune” (or “evil travail” in older versions) covers a wide range of disasters. The Hebrew phrase behind it literally means “an evil business” or “a bad event.” It could be a failed investment, a fire, a robbery, or a lawsuit. Something outside your control. The word carries the idea of a sudden reversal, you had it, and then you did not. The other key phrase is “nothing in his hand.” In Hebrew culture, the hand represents power, possession, and ability. To have nothing in your hand is to be empty, helpless, unable to give or keep. This is not a moral failure. It is the reality that all human effort, when tested by time and chance, can slip through your fingers. The Preacher is not saying money is evil. He is saying that trusting money to secure your future is like trying to hold water in your fist.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from many traditions have read this verse as a sobering reminder of earthly fragility. Matthew Henry applied it to the danger of hoarding wealth for yourself, it can hurt you and still vanish. John Wesley saw the perishing as caused by wicked practices, either your own or others. More recent readers, like those following the BSB translation, focus on the “failed venture”: even honest plans can collapse. Some traditions emphasize that this verse sets up the positive call in verse 18, to enjoy the gifts God gives today, rather than grasping for tomorrow. Across the board, the point is the same: wealth is uncertain, so hold it lightly and look to God for your real security.
A common misunderstanding
Many assume this verse is a warning only about greedy, sinful people who hoard wealth unjustly. In fact, the Preacher is describing a common human experience: a hardworking person saves and then loses it through no fault of their own. The verse is not about divine punishment. It is about the inescapable uncertainty of life “under the sun.” Anyone who trusts in riches, even wisely earned, can end up empty-handed.
Living This Out
This week, look at your bank account or investments. Now ask yourself: if all of it vanished tomorrow, what would you still have? The verse does not tell you to stop saving or to avoid planning for your children. It invites you to loosen your grip. Your value is not in what you can pass on. The son in the verse receives nothing, but he still has a father. Your legacy is made of love, faith, and the character you build day by day. Those do not perish by misfortune. Consider one small step: share a need or give away something this week that you would rather keep. That is the antidote to the fear of losing everything.
Main takeaway: Wealth can disappear in an instant, so build your life on what lasts beyond what you hold in your hand.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
If you save all your money in a piggy bank and it breaks, you might have nothing left. It is sad. God wants us to remember that He is more important than money. He never breaks.
For ages 9, 12
This verse describes a hard thing. A man worked hard and saved up for his son, but something bad happened and all the money was lost. Solomon says this happens sometimes, even to good people. That is why Jesus told us not to store up treasure on earth where it can be lost. The best thing you can leave your family is a love for God and a kind heart. Those never get lost.
Questions People Ask
What does “evil travail” mean in Ecclesiastes 5:14?
In the King James Version, “evil travail” means a bad event or unsuccessful business venture. It could be a financial disaster, a robbery, a failed investment, or any misfortune that takes away wealth. Commentators like John Gill explain it as an “evil business or affair” that causes the loss.
Is Ecclesiastes 5:14 saying it is wrong to leave an inheritance to your children?
No, the verse is describing a painful reality, wealth can be lost before you pass it on. The Preacher is not against leaving an inheritance. He is warning against trusting money as your ultimate legacy. The surrounding verses (especially 5:18) encourage enjoying what God gives today, not obsessing over what you will leave behind.
How does this verse connect with “naked I came, naked I shall return” in verse 15?
Verse 14 is a concrete example of verse 15. The man had nothing in his hand for his son because his riches perished. Verse 15 then states the universal truth: everyone leaves this world with nothing, just as they entered it. The loss of wealth simply makes visible what is always true, we can carry nothing out.
Does Ecclesiastes 5:14 teach that wealth is evil?
No, the Bible does not say money is evil (1 Timothy 6:10 says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil). This verse simply observes that wealth is fragile and can disappear through no fault of the owner. It is a wise warning, not a condemnation of having money.
What should a Christian do with this verse?
Use it to examine your heart. Are you anxious about losing your savings? Do you define your worth by what you can provide for your family? The verse invites you to trust God rather than riches, to hold wealth with open hands, and to focus on eternal treasures, faith, love, character, that cannot be taken away.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study