Ecclesiastes 2:2

Ecclesiastes 2:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
• New International Version (NIV)“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:2

1I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body — my mind still guiding me with wisdom — and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. 4I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

Ecclesiastes 2:2 word by word

לִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• of laughterשְׂחֹקώechôq ώechôq · laughterH7814
• madהָלַלhâlal · to boast: rave madlyH1984
• and of mirthשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
• Whatזֹהzôh · thisH2090
• doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:2

• Ecclesiastes 7:2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart.
• Proverbs 14:13Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief.
• Isaiah 22:12On that day the Lord God of Armies called for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads, and for the wearing of sackcloth.
• Amos 6:3You dismiss any thought of the evil day and bring in a reign of violence.
• 1 Peter 4:2in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I said of laughter, It is mad - Literally "To laughter I said, O mad one! and to mirth, What is this one doing?" Solomon does not speak here of a sober enjoyment of the things of this world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia as two persons; and the contemptuous manner wherewith he treats them has something remarkably striking. He tells the former to her face that she is mad…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-11The Teacher says seeking pleasure for its own sake is empty. Even great achievements are like smoke.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. laughter--including prosperity, and joy in general (Job 8:21). mad--that is, when made the chief good; it is harmless in its proper place. What doeth it?--Of what avail is it in giving solid good? (Ec 7:6; Pr 14:13).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:2

• Epicureans
• Investigation
• Pleasure
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• 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