Ecclesiastes 2:25

Ecclesiastes 2:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
• New International Version (NIV)for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
• English Standard Version (ESV)for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:25

23For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless). 24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:25 word by word

כִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For who can eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• or who else can hastenחוּשׁchûsh · to enjoyH2363
• moreחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:25

• Ecclesiastes 1:12I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
• 1 Kings 4:21Now Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute (money) and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:25

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-26Verses 18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof, according to his rank and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-26Even though life under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:3) is like a vapor (2:23, futile), we should enjoy God's gifts of food, work, and wisdom.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. hasten--after indulgences (Pr 7:23; 19:2), eagerly pursue such enjoyments. None can compete with me in this. If I, then, with all my opportunities of enjoyment, failed utterly to obtain solid pleasure of my own making, apart from God, who else can? God mercifully spares His children the sad experiment which Solomon made, by denying them the goods which they often desire. He gives them the fruits of Solomon's experience, without their paying the dear…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:25

• Happiness
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Haste
• Hereunto
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings