Ecclesiastes 5:20

Ecclesiastes 5:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
• New International Version (NIV)They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:20

18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. 19Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:20 word by word

כִּ֚י לֹ֣א הַרְבֵּ֔ה יִזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו כִּ֧י הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַעֲנֶ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• seldomלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• seldomרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• considersזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of his lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• keeps him occupiedעָנָה‛ânâh · to afflictH6031
• with the joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
• of his heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For he shall not much remember - The person who acts in this way, extracts all the good requisite from life. He passes through things temporal so as not to lose those that are eternal: - "Calm and serene, the road of life to him, Or long or short, rugged or smooth, with thorns O'erspread, or gay with flowers, is but a road. Such fare as offers grateful he accepts, And smiling to his native home proceeds." C.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The days will pass smoothly and pleasantly, while he lives in the consciousness of God‘s favor. Answereth him - i. e., grants his prayers.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Life is God's gift. We must not view our calling as a drudgery, but take pleasure in the calling where God puts us. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes employments easy, and afflictions light. Having made a proper use of riches, a man will remember the days of his past life with pleasure. The manner in which Solomon refers to God as the Giver, both of life and its enjoyments, shows they ought to be received and to be used…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20The advice for enjoying life is clear: Enjoy your food, drink, and work. Appreciate them as gifts from God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. He will not remember much, looking back with disappointment, as the ungodly do (Ec 2:11), on the days of his life. answereth ... in the joy--God answers his prayers in giving him "power" to enjoy his blessings. Gesenius and Vulgate translate, "For God (so) occupies him with joy," &c., that he thinks not much of the shortness and sorrows of life. Holden, "Though God gives not much (as to real enjoyment), yet he remembers (with thankfulness) the days…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:20

• Gifts from God
• Rich, the
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings