Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 3:13
13It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
- New International Version (NIV)That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
- New King James Version (NKJV)and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
Context of Ecclesiastes 3:13
11He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him. 15Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 3Ecclesiastes 3:13 word by word
וְגַ֤ם כָּל־הָאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְרָאָ֥ה ט֖וֹב בְּכָל־עֲמָל֑וֹ מַתַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:13
- Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,
- Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works.
- Deuteronomy 28:30You will become engaged to a woman, but another man will rape her. You will build a house but not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but not enjoy its fruit.
- Judges 6:3Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east came and attacked them.
- Psalms 128:2You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.
- Isaiah 65:21People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:13
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13rejoice and do good while they live: Even though life and work can be hard, the Teacher's conclusion (repeated from Ecclesiastes 2:24) can still be true.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Literally, "And also as to every man who eats ... this is the gift of God" (Ec 3:22; 5:18). When received as God's gifts, and to God's glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order (Ac 2:46; 1Co 10:31; 1Ti 4:3, 4).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3
- 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
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