When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
When wealth grows, so does the number of people who consume it. What benefit does the owner really get from it, except to look at it?
The writer is pointing out that having more possessions often means more people depending on you to share them, so the actual benefit to the owner may be just the satisfaction of seeing what they have.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, known for his immense wealth and wisdom, as he reflected on the futility of earthly pursuits in ancient Israel. In that culture, wealth was often seen as a divine blessing, but the book challenges this by exploring how material abundance fails to bring true fulfillment. This verse specifically addresses the irony of growing riches, which only increase the number of people consuming them while leaving the owner with mere visual enjoyment.
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