Ecclesiastes 11:7
in Ecclesiastes 11Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
KJV
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 11
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIt is indeed a beautiful wisdom, because it is light, but it is more beautiful than the sun, since the sun is unable to give birth to its radiance within itself, while the Eternal Sun begets the most beautiful Radiance within Himself. Likewise, eternal wisdom …
This site's exposition
Light is sweet
on Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun calls ordinary life good, the voice that named futility also naming plain pleasure. Verse 8 balances it: if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that which comes is vanity.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Sweet is the light etc. Here the third point is noted, namely the recompense: and this is the beholding of the eternal light and sun, in which there is the highest sweetness, and so great is the recompense. And therefore he says: Sweet is the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Truly the light is sweet,.... Here begins a new subject, as most think; and some here begin the twelfth and last chapter, and not improperly.
Light was the first thing made in the formation of the great world, as the eye is one of the first in the formation of the body, the little world. It is pleasant to see the light; the heathen were so charmed with the pleasure of it that they worshipped the sun.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecc 11:7 The light ... the sun - Gifts of God which cheer man’s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecc 11:8 Days of darkness - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow or misfortune. Compare Ecc 12:
Truly the light is sweet - Life is dear to every man as the light of the sun is to the eye. A man would give all that he has for his life, and it is particularly dear to him when he is in ease and affluence: but let each remember that,
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּמָת֖וֹק | umatok | and [is] sweet | H4966 → | |
| הָא֑וֹר | haor | the light | H216 → | 121 times |
| וְט֥וֹב | vetov | and [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| לַֽעֵינַ֖יִם | laeinayim | for the eyes | H5869 → | 887 times |
| לִרְא֥וֹת | lirot | to see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ | hashamesh | the sun | H8121 → | 134 times |
וּמָת֖וֹקand [is] sweet
umatokH4966 →
הָא֑וֹרthe light
haorH216 →121 times
וְט֥וֹבand [is] good
vetovH2896 →538 times
לַֽעֵינַ֖יִםfor the eyes
laeinayimH5869 →887 times
לִרְא֥וֹתto see
lirotH7200 →1300 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃the sun
hashameshH8121 →134 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:9–10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Proverbs 2:7
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- Psalms 85:12
The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
- Psalms 34:9–10
Through
Matthew 5:45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
it leads to
- Psalms 145:9
The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.
- Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is…
- Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
- Psalms 145:9
Where this verse is studied
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.