God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 2:3
3I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do ⌞some⌟ foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven.
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 thought to myself, “Now I want to experiment with pleasure and enjoy myself.” But even this was pointless. 2I thought, “Laughter doesn’t make any sense. What does pleasure accomplish?” I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do ⌞some⌟ foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven. 4I accomplished some great things: I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself. I planted every kind of fruit tree in them.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 2Ecclesiastes 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’ve used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. ⌞Now⌟ I know that this is ⌞like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
- 1 Samuel 25:36When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a king’s banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything until dawn.
- Proverbs 20:1Wine ⌞makes people⌟ mock, liquor ⌞makes them⌟ noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise.
- Proverbs 31:4“It is not for kings, Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.
- Ephesians 5:18Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
- Ecclesiastes 7:18It’s good to hold on to the one and not let go of the other, because the one who fears God will be able to avoid both extremes.
- Proverbs 23:29Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
- Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.
- 2 Corinthians 6:15Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever?
- Ecclesiastes 6:12Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?
- Ecclesiastes 12:13After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone.
- Genesis 47:9Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The length of my stay on earth has been 130 years. The years of my life have been few and difficult, fewer than my ancestors’ years.”
- Job 14:14“If a person dies, will he go on living? I will wait for my relief to come as long as my hard labor continues.
- Psalms 90:9Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury. We live out our years like one ⌞long⌟ 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
In the dictionaries
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
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