Ecclesiastes 3:13

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 set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him. 15That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God seeks what has passed by.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 word by word

וְגַ֤ם כָּל־הָאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְרָאָ֥ה ט֖וֹב בְּכָל־עֲמָל֑וֹ מַתַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃Read the interlinear

• moreoverגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• that everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• personאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• whoשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• eatsאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• and drinksשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• seesרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: enjoyH7200
• goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• his laborעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• giftמַתַּתmattâth · giftH4991
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:13

• Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is from the hand of God.
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
• Ecclesiastes 6:2a person to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to enjoy these things, but a foreigner enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction.
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.
• Deuteronomy 28:30You will betroth a woman, but another man will violate her; you will build a house, but you will not live in it; you will plant a vineyard, but you will not make use of its fruit.
• Judges 6:3For whenever Israel had sown, the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the people of the east and march against them.
• Psalms 128:2When you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, You will be happy and it will go well for you.
• Isaiah 65:21They will build houses and inhabit them; They will also 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

• Blessing
• Contentment
• Gifts from God
• Happiness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Dance
• Judge
• Life
• Providence
• Synagogue, the Great

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