3. Profit. yithron. This word occurs nine other times in this book ( 2:11, 13; 3:9; 5:9, 16; 7:12; 10:10, 11), and is variously translated “excelleth,” “excellency,” “profitable,” and “better.” Yithron is from a verb meaning “to remain over,” and the noun derived from it therefore carries the idea of “remainder,” and then “excess,” “abundance,” and in Hebrew, “superiority,” “advantage.” Man is perpetually toiling, yet for all his toil there is no abiding result.
It is possible that the metaphor Solomon here used is one of the business world with its ceaseless activities, whose objective is the attainment of a worth-while material goal (see on 2:11). But often a man’s life is spent in building up something his successor tears down. Futility and insecurity characterize all human endeavor.
The interrogative “what?” calls for an emphatic negative answer. It may be compared with the words of Matt. 16:26, where the Master asks, literally, “What shall a man be profited, if he should gain the whole world, and should lose his soul?” The reply anticipated by the Preacher is, “Nothing.”
Man. The Hebrew word is the generic term for “man,” or as we would say, “mankind.” The cycle of human life is repeated over and over again with each new generation.
Labour. From a Hebrew word that means, “toil,” “trouble,” or “mischief.” Here the term is applied to the sum total of a man’s efforts during his lifetime.
Which he taketh. This expression refers to every form of activity that takes place under the light of the sun.
Under the sun. Equivalent to such a phrase as “under heaven” ( 1:13; 2:3; 3:1). It appears in Ecclesiastes about 30 times.