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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 2:1 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 2:1 |
Strong Concordance |
I said [0559] in mine heart [03820], Go to now [03212], I will prove [05254] thee with mirth [08057], therefore enjoy [07200] pleasure [02896]: and, behold, this also is vanity [01892]. |
| |
King James |
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
(Ecc. 2:1-26)
I said . . . heart-- (Luk 12:19).
thee--my heart, I will test whether thou canst find that solid good in pleasure which was not in "worldly wisdom." But this also proves to be "vanity" (Isa 50:11). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Solomon's trial of God's second gift, namely, riches, and the enjoyment which riches supply; this brought him to the sane result (compare Ecc 1:12).
Comparing Solomon's action with Luk 12:16-21, it must be remembered that Solomon's object was the acquisition of wisdom, not self-indulgence, and that he did not fail to look forward to the certainty of death overtaking him. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
"I have said in mine heart: Up then, I will prove thee with mirth, and enjoy thou the good! And, lo, this also is vain." Speaking in the heart is not here merely, as at Ecc 1:16-17, speaking to the heart, but the words are formed into a direct address of the heart. The Targ. and Midrash obliterate this by interpreting as if the word were אנסּנּה, "I will try it" (Ecc 7:23). Jerome also, in rendering by vadam et affluam deliciis et fruar bonis, proceeds contrary to the usual reading of 'אן Niph. of נסך, vid., at Psa 2:6), as if this could mean, "I will pour over myself." It is an address of the heart, and ב is, as at Kg1 10:1, that of the means: I will try thee with mirth, to see whether thy hunger after satisfaction can be appeased with mirth. וּראה also is an address; Grtz sees here, contrary to the Gramm., an infin. continuing the בּשׂ; ūrēh, Job 10:15, is the connect. form of the particip. adj. rāěh; and if reēh could be the inf. after the forms naqqēh, hinnāqqēh, it would be the inf. absol., instead of which וּראות was to be expected. It is the imper.: See good, sinking thyself therein, i.e., enjoy a cheerful life. Elsewhere the author connects ראה less significantly with the accus. - obj., Ecc 5:17; Ecc 6:6; Ecc 2:24.
This was his intention; but this experiment also to find out the summum bonum proves itself a failure: he found a life of pleasure to be a hollow life; that also, viz., devotedness to mirth, was to him manifestly vanity. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| I said - Being disappointed of my hopes from knowledge, I resolved to try another course. Go to - O my soul! I will try whether I cannot make thee happy, by the enjoyment of sensual delights. Vanity - Is vain, and unable to make men happy. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
I will prove thee with mirth - This is well expressed by the author so often referred to. Having tried speculative knowledge in vain, passion and appetite whisper: -
"From the rugged thorny road
Of wisdom, which so ill repays thy toil,
Turn back, and enter pleasure's flowery paths.
Go, take thy fill of joy, to passion give
The reins; nor let one serious thought restrain
What youth and affluence prompt." |
11 Behold, all ye that kindle [06919] a fire [0784], that compass yourselves about [0247] with sparks [02131]: walk [03212] in the light [0217] of your fire [0784], and in the sparks [02131] that ye have kindled [01197]. This shall ye have of mine hand [03027]; ye shall lie down [07901] in sorrow [04620].
19 And [2532] I will say [2046] to my [3450] soul [5590], Soul [5590], thou hast [2192] much [4183] goods [18] laid up [2749] for [1519] many [4183] years [2094]; take thine ease [373], eat [5315], drink [4095], and be merry [2165].
16 And [1161] he spake [2036] a parable [3850] unto [4314] them [846], saying [3004], The ground [5561] of a certain [5100] rich [4145] man [444] brought forth plentifully [2164]:
17 And [2532] he thought [1260] within [1722] himself [1438], saying [3004], What [5101] shall I do [4160], because [3754] I have [2192] no [3756] room where [4226] to bestow [4863] my [3450] fruits [2590]?
18 And [2532] he said [2036], This [5124] will I do [4160]: I will pull down [2507] my [3450] barns [596], and [2532] build [3618] greater [3187]; and [2532] there [1563] will I bestow [4863] all [3956] my [3450] fruits [1081] and [2532] my [3450] goods [18].
19 And [2532] I will say [2046] to my [3450] soul [5590], Soul [5590], thou hast [2192] much [4183] goods [18] laid up [2749] for [1519] many [4183] years [2094]; take thine ease [373], eat [5315], drink [4095], and be merry [2165].
20 But [1161] God [2316] said [2036] unto him [846], Thou fool [878], this [5026] night [3571] thy [4675] soul [5590] shall be required [523] of [575] thee [4675]: then [1161] whose [5101] shall those things be [2071], which [3739] thou hast provided [2090]?
21 So [3779] is he that layeth up treasure [2343] for himself [1438], and [2532] is [4147] not [3361] rich [4147] toward [1519] God [2316].
12 I the Preacher [06953] was king [04428] over Israel [03478] in Jerusalem [03389].
24 There is nothing better [02896] for a man [0120], than that he should eat [0398] and drink [08354], and that he should make his soul [05315] enjoy [07200] good [02896] in his labour [05999]. This [02090] also I saw [07200], that it was from the hand [03027] of God [0430].
6 Yea, though [0432] he live [02421] a thousand [0505] years [08141] twice [06471] told, yet hath he seen [07200] no good [02896]: do not all go [01980] to one [0259] place [04725]?
17 All his days [03117] also he eateth [0398] in darkness [02822], and he hath much [07235] sorrow [03707] and wrath [07110] with his sickness [02483].
15 If I be wicked [07561], woe [0480] unto me; and if I be righteous [06663], yet will I not lift up [05375] my head [07218]. I am full [07649] of confusion [07036]; therefore see [07202] [07200] thou mine affliction [06040];
1 And when the queen [04436] of Sheba [07614] heard [08085] of the fame [08088] of Solomon [08010] concerning the name [08034] of the LORD [03068], she came [0935] to prove [05254] him with hard questions [02420].
6 Yet have I set [05258] my king [04428] upon my holy [06944] hill [02022] of Zion [06726].
23 All this [02090] have I proved [05254] by wisdom [02451]: I said [0559], I will be wise [02449]; but it was far [07350] from me.
16 I communed [01696] with mine own heart [03820], saying [0559], Lo, I am come to great estate [01431], and have gotten [03254] more wisdom [02451] than all they that have been before [06440] me in Jerusalem [03389]: yea, my heart [03820] had great [07235] experience [07200] of wisdom [02451] and knowledge [01847].
17 And I gave [05414] my heart [03820] to know [03045] wisdom [02451], and to know [03045] madness [01947] and folly [05531]: I perceived [03045] that this [01571] also is vexation [07475] of spirit [07307].