Ecclesiastes 3:12
in Ecclesiastes 3I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
KJV
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseWhat have we our beings, capacities, and estates for, but to be some way serviceable to our generation? We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves. No; it is our business to do good; it is in doing good that there is the truest pleasure, and what is so laid out is best laid up and will turn to the best account.
This site's exposition
I know that there is nothing better for them
on Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
The Teacher draws his working conclusion from the poem: there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live. Verse 13 restates the refrain first heard at 2:24, every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction, and names it the gift of God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Thus I perceived that there is nothing good for each of them than to rejoice and do what is good in his life. Indeed every man who eats and drinks and finds satisfaction in all his labour- it is a gift from God."
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Here secondly, he commends present pleasure, and this in order to reprove curiosity; whence he says: And I knew that there was nothing better, supply: among these transitory goods, than to rejoice and to do good in one's life, namely to rejoice, in heart, to …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God.
I know that there is no good in them,....
The vanity of worldly honour and power, which are abused for the support of oppression and persecution if men be not governed by the fear of God in the use of them,
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
in them--in God's works (Ec 3:11), as far as relates to man's duty. Man cannot fully comprehend them, but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Ga 6:9, 10).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
I know that there is no good in them, but, etc. - Since God has so disposed the affairs of this world, that the great events of providence cannot be accelerated or retarded by human cares and anxieties, submit to God; make a proper use of what he has given: do thyself no harm, and endeavor as much as possible to do others good. Enjoy, and bless thyself; let others share The transient blessing: ‘tis the gift of God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
In them - i. e., in the sons of men. To do good - In a moral sense. Physical enjoyment is referred to in Ecc 3:13.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
I know. Now, since the time of visitation [death] is concealed, that there is nothing better for man than to rejoice with his portion and to do that which is good in his Creator’s eyes, while he is yet alive.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Beautiful in its time. In its proper time, it is beautiful that reward be given for good deeds, but at the time of evil, it is appropriate for meting out punishment for evil deeds.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָדַ֕עְתִּי | yada'ti | I know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אֵ֥ין | ʾein | there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| ט֖וֹב | tov | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| בָּ֑ם | bam | for them | ||
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לִשְׂמ֔וֹחַ | lismoach | to rejoice | H8055 → | 155 times |
| וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת | velaasot | and to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| ט֖וֹב | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| בְּחַיָּֽיו׃ | bechaiyav | in life his | H2416 → | 498 times |
יָדַ֕עְתִּיI know
yada'tiH3045 →945 times
כִּ֛יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אֵ֥יןthere not
ʾeinH369 →789 times
ט֖וֹב[is] good
tovH2896 →538 times
בָּ֑םfor them
bam
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לִשְׂמ֔וֹחַto rejoice
lismoachH8055 →155 times
וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתand to do
velaasotH6213 →2628 times
ט֖וֹבgood
tovH2896 →538 times
בְּחַיָּֽיו׃in life his
bechaiyavH2416 →498 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 37:3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Matthew 6:31–33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Psalms 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
- 1 Corinthians 15:57–58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- Psalms 34:9–10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
Through
1 Timothy 6:18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- 1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Hebrews 13:16
Through
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?
it leads to
- 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.
- Ecclesiastes 2:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
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, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.