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Ecclesiastes 2:24

Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

KJV

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

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Commentary

2 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

18 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
אֵֽין־'ein-there notH369 →
ט֤וֹבTov[is] goodH2896 →
בָּאָדָם֙ba.'a.Damfor <the> personH120 →
שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.Khalthat he will eatH398 →
וְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.Tahand he will drinkH8354 →
וְהֶרְאָ֧הve.her.'Ahand he will showH7200 →
אֶת־'et-<obj.>H853 →
נַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.Shoself hisH5315 →
ט֖וֹבTovgoodH2896 →
בַּעֲמָל֑וֹba.'a.ma.Loin toil hisH5999 →
גַּם־gam-alsoH1571 →
זֹה֙zohthisH2090 →
רָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiI have seenH7200 →
אָ֔נִי'A.niIH589 →
כִּ֛יkithatH3588 →
מִיַּ֥דmi.Yad[is] from [the] hand ofH3027 →
הָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430 →
הִֽיא׃Hi'itH1931 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Ecclesiastes 3:22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.Ecclesiastes 8:15So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.1 Timothy 6:17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.Ecclesiastes 5:18–19Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.Ecclesiastes 3:12–13I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,Ecclesiastes 9:7–9Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:Ecclesiastes 3:13and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.1 Corinthians 15:32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”Ecclesiastes 9:9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.Deuteronomy 12:18Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do,Ecclesiastes 11:9–10Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.Deuteronomy 12:12And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.Acts 14:17Yet 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.”Ecclesiastes 6:2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.Malachi 2:2If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.Ruth 3:7After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.Nehemiah 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Featured studies on this passage

Still-Life with a Skull (Vanitas) — Philippe de Champaigne

On Ecclesiastes 2:24

Vanity Under the Sun — Ecclesiastes

The first instance : eating, drinking, and finding good in one's labor named explicitly as “from the hand of God,” set right after the darkest verdict yet on toil's fruit.

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King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré

Walks through Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes: the Study Guide

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About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →
Continue: Ecclesiastes 2 →