Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
• New International Version (NIV)I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:3

1I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” I 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. 5I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 word by word

תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I soughtתּוּרtûr · to spyH8446
• in mine heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to giveמָשַׁךְmâshak · to drawH4900
• myselfבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
• unto wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
• yet acquaintingנָהַגnâhag · to leadH5090
• with wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• and to lay holdאָחַז'âchaz · to graspH270
• on follyסִכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• till I might seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• that goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• for the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• which they should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• under the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• allמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of their lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:3

• Ecclesiastes 1:17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.
• 1 Samuel 25:36Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. Nabal’s heart was cheerful, and he was very drunk, so she didn’t say anything to him until morning light.
• Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.
• Proverbs 31:4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer.
• Ephesians 5:18And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:
• Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
• Proverbs 23:29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?
• Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
• 2 Corinthians 6:15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
• Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
• Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “My pilgrimage has lasted 130 years. My years have been few and hard, and they have not reached the years of my ancestors during their pilgrimages.”
• Job 14:14When a person dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.
• Psalms 90:9For all our days ebb away under your wrath; we end our years like a sigh.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3To give myself unto wine, (yet acquainting [נהג noheg, "guiding"] mine heart with wisdom) - I did not run into extremes, as when I gave up myself to mirth and pleasure. There, I threw off all restraint; here, I took the middle course, to see whether a moderate enjoyment of the things of the world might not produce that happiness which I supposed man was created to enjoy here below.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3I sought … - Rather, I resolved (literally “I turned in my heart”) to draw my flesh with wine (see the margin), my heart guiding me with wisdom. In the course of his attempt to answer the question of Ecclesiastes 1:3, while his heart was directing him (as a charioteer directs his horses or a shepherd his sheep) with wisdom, and while he was following that guidance, he determined to draw with him his flesh by wine, thus making his flesh, which he speaks of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The Teacher realized that using wine to cheer himself was foolish, yet he did it while still seeking wisdom. He wanted to understand how to find happiness. This effort turned out to be pointless (Ecclesiastes 2:11). the few days of their lives: All human experiences are like "a breath."Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-113-11. Illustration more at large of Ec 2:1, 2. I sought--I resolved, after search into many plans. give myself unto wine--literally, "to draw my flesh," or "body to wine" (including all banquetings). Image from a captive drawn after a chariot in triumph (Ro 6:16, 19; 1Co 12:2); or, one "allured" (2Pe 2:18, 19). yet acquainting ... wisdom--literally, "and my heart (still) was behaving, or guiding itself," with wisdom [Gesenius]. Maurer translates: "was…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:3

• Epicureans
• Investigation
• Pleasure
• Vanity
• Wine
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Give
• Guide
• 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