Ecclesiastes 5:20
in Ecclesiastes 5For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
KJV
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseFor he shall not much remember the days of his life,.... Be they more or fewer, as Jarchi: he will not think life long and tedious; nor dwell upon, and distress himself with, the troubles he has met with, or is likely to meet with; but, being content with the good things God has given him, and freely and cheerfully enjoying them, he passes away his time delightfully and pleasantly.
This site's exposition
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting
on Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
The Teacher states the refrain again: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun is good. The chapter ends on a man who forgets his days because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
This site's exposition
a man seldom considers the days
Gill finds contentment here: the man who can enjoy what God has given lets his days pass with little thought of their trouble. Barnes renders the verb as God answering his prayers through the joy of his heart. Henry calls a cheerful spirit a great blessing.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"For he will not much remember the days of his life," that is, he will not be much afflicted by cares that pertain to life, "because God occupies his heart with delights," not spiritual ones, concerning which in Song of Songs 7: "How beautiful you …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
If he does not answer all his desires and expectations, in the letter of them, yet he answers them with that which is more than equivalent, in the joy of his heart. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes the yoke of our employments easy and the burden of our afflictions light.
David, when he was perplexed, went into the sanctuary of God, Ps. lxxiii. Let our disappointments in the creature turn our eyes to the Creator; let us have recourse to the word of God's grace and consult that, to the throne of his grace and solicit that. In the word and prayer there is a balm for every wound.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
He will not remember much, looking back with disappointment, as the ungodly do (Ec 2:11), on the days of his life. answereth . . . in the joy--God answers his prayers in giving him "power" to enjoy his blessings.
For he shall not much remember - The person who acts in this way, extracts all the good requisite from life. He passes through things temporal so as not to lose those that are eternal: - “Calm and serene, the road of life to him, Or long or short, rugged or smooth, with thorns O’erspread, or gay with flowers, is but a road. Such fare as offers grateful he accepts, And smiling to his native home proceeds.” C.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The days will pass smoothly and pleasantly, while he lives in the consciousness of God’s favor. Answereth him - i. e., grants his prayers.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֚י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הַרְבֵּ֔ה | harbeh | [surely] much | H7235 → | 227 times |
| יִזְכֹּ֖ר | yizkor | he will remember | H2142 → | 230 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְמֵ֣י | yemei | [the] days of | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| חַיָּ֑יו | chaiyav | life his | H2416 → | 498 times |
| כִּ֧י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים | haelohim | <the> God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| מַעֲנֶ֖ה | maaneh | [is] keeping busy | H6031 → | 82 times |
| בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת | besimchat | with [the] joy of | H8057 → | 94 times |
| לִבּֽוֹ׃ | libo | heart his | H3820 → | 595 times |
כִּ֚יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
הַרְבֵּ֔ה[surely] much
harbehH7235 →227 times
יִזְכֹּ֖רhe will remember
yizkorH2142 →230 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְמֵ֣י[the] days of
yemeiH3117 →2304 times
חַיָּ֑יוlife his
chaiyavH2416 →498 times
כִּ֧יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים<the> God
haelohimH430 →2601 times
מַעֲנֶ֖ה[is] keeping busy
maanehH6031 →82 times
בְּשִׂמְחַ֥תwith [the] joy of
besimchatH8057 →94 times
לִבּֽוֹ׃heart his
liboH3820 →595 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
Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
it leads to
- Isaiah 32:17
The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Colossians 1:20
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Acts 13:38–39
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- Isaiah 32:17
Through
Psalms 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:8
Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Proverbs 15:16–17
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- 1 Timothy 6:6
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Proverbs 16:8
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, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.