Ecclesiastes 2:1
"I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity."

Commentary

Matthew Henry Concise

📖

Summary

Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy?

Reflection

It is only through Jesus Christ that final blessedness can be attained. MWHBC 662.2

📚Read Complete Commentary

Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one

thing to another, are like the restlessness of a man in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to give himself to wine, he next tried the costly amusements of princes. The poor, when they read such a description, are ready to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a strong understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly pleasure, when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the mind as eager and unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not from the situation in which we are placed. It is only through Jesus Christ that final blessedness can be attained. MWHBC 662.2

Source: Matthew Henry Concise (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (13 words)

H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H0589 אֲנַי
Definition:

17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham 17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham

Possible Meanings:
  • ships (semantic_range)
  • fleet (semantic_range)
H3820 לֵב
Definition:

15(feminineProverbs 12:25, from influence ofנֶפֶשׁsee De Now)inner man, mind will, heart, absolute and constructלֵבGenesis 8:21239t.;לֶבֿExodus 15:815t.; suffixלִבִּיGenesis 24:45102t.;לִבְּךָExodus 9 15(feminineProverbs 12:25, from influence ofנֶפֶשׁsee De Now)inner man, mind will, heart, absolute and constructלֵבGenesis 8:21239t.;לֶבֿExodus 15:815t.; suffixלִבִּיGenesis 24:45102t.;לִבְּךָExodus 9

Possible Meanings:
  • in the midst of the sea (semantic_range)
H3212 יָלַךְ
Definition:

A primitive root (comparehalak); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) -- X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), A primitive root (comparehalak); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) -- X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing),

H4994 נָא
Definition:

"I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction -- I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh.NAS Exhaus "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction -- I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh.NAS Exhaus

Possible Meanings:
  • raw (semantic_range)
H5254 נָסָה
Definition:

343t.; suffixנִסָּהוּExodus 15:25; 3feminine singularנִסְּתָהDeuteronomy 28:56; 1singularנִסִּיתִיEcclesiastes 7:23, + 4 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singular suffixיְנַסֵּםDaniel 1:14; 1singularאֲנ 343t.; suffixנִסָּהוּExodus 15:25; 3feminine singularנִסְּתָהDeuteronomy 28:56; 1singularנִסִּיתִיEcclesiastes 7:23, + 4 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singular suffixיְנַסֵּםDaniel 1:14; 1singularאֲנ

Possible Meanings:
  • test (semantic_range)
  • try (semantic_range)
  • test (semantic_range)
  • try (semantic_range)
  • attempt (semantic_range)
H8057 שִׂמְחָה
Definition:

37+, constructשִׂמְחַתIsaiah 9:2+; suffixשִׂמְחָתִיPsalm 137:6, etc.; pluralשְׂמָחוֺתPsalm 16:11,תֹ-Psalm 45:16; —1mirth, gladness, e.g. in festivity,Genesis 31:27(E),Psalm 137:3;Psalm 137:6,1 Kings 1 37+, constructשִׂמְחַתIsaiah 9:2+; suffixשִׂמְחָתִיPsalm 137:6, etc.; pluralשְׂמָחוֺתPsalm 16:11,תֹ-Psalm 45:16; —1mirth, gladness, e.g. in festivity,Genesis 31:27(E),Psalm 137:3;Psalm 137:6,1 Kings 1

Possible Meanings:
  • joy (semantic_range)
H7200 רָאָה
Definition:

7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas 7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas

Possible Meanings:
  • vision (semantic_range)
H2896 טוֹב
Definition:

Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the

Possible Meanings:
  • good things (semantic_range)
  • goods (semantic_range)
  • goodness (semantic_range)
H2009 הִנֵּה
Definition:

2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro 2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro

Possible Meanings:
  • hither (semantic_range)
H1571 גַּם
Definition:

6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ 6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ

Possible Meanings:
  • moreover (semantic_range)
  • yea (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H1892 הֶבֶל
Definition:

2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ 2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • act emptily (semantic_range)
  • become vain (semantic_range)
  • became vain (semantic_range)
  • cause to become vain (semantic_range)

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