Ecclesiastes 2:26 KJV

Ecclesiastes 2:26

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight,.... No man is of himself good, or naturally so, but evil, very evil, as all the descendants of Adam are; there are some that are good in their own eyes, and in the sight of others, and yet not truly good; they are only really good, who are so in the sight of God, who sees the heart, and knows what is in man; they are such who are made good by his efficacious grace; who are inwardly, and not merely outwardly so; who are good at heart, or who have good hearts, clean hearts, new and right spirits created in them; who have a good work of grace upon their hearts, and the several graces of the Spirit implanted there; who have the good Spirit of God in them, in whose

heart Christ dwells by faith; and who have the good word of Christ dwelling in them, and have a good treasure of rich experience of the grace of God; and who, in one word, are born again, renewed in the spirit of their minds, and live by faith on Jesus Christ. The phrase is rendered, "whoso pleaseth God", Ecc 7:26 ; and he is one that is accepted with God in Christ, his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased; who is clothed with his righteousness, made comely through his comeliness, and so is irreprovable in his sight; and who by faith looks to and lays hold on this righteousness, and does all he does in the exercise of faith, without which it is impossible to please God. To such a man God gives wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; wisdom to acquire knowledge, to keep, use, and improve it; and joy, to be cheerful and thankful for the good things of life: or rather this may design, not natural wisdom, but spiritual wisdom, wisdom in the hidden part, so as to be wise unto salvation, and to walk wisely and circumspectly, a good man's steps being ordered by the Lord; and knowledge of God in Christ, and of Christ, and of the things of the Gospel, and which relate to eternal life; and so spiritual joy, joy and peace in believing, in the presence of God, and communion with him; joy in Christ, and in hope of the glory of God, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory; all which, more or less, at one time or another, God gives to those who are truly good; and which is not to be found in worldly wisdom, pleasure, riches, power, and authority: the Targum is, "to the man, whose works are right before God, he gives wisdom and knowledge in this world, and joy with the righteous in the world to come;'' but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up; to gather mammon, and to heap up a large possession, as the Targum; to gather together a great deal of riches, but without wisdom and knowledge to use them, without any proper enjoyment of them, or pleasure in them; all he has is a deal of trouble and care to get riches, without any comfort in them, and he has them not for his own use: the Midrash illustrates this of the good man and sinner, by the instances of Abraham and Nimrod, of Isaac and Abimelech, of Jacob and Laban, of the Israelites and Canaanites, of Hezekiah and Sennacherib, and of Mordecai and Haman. But that he may give to him that is good before God; so it is ordered by divine Providence sometimes, that all that a wicked man has been labouring for all his days should come into the hands of such who are truly good men, and will make a right use of what is communicated to them. This also is vanity, and vexation of spirit; not to the good man, but to the wicked man: so the Targum, "it is vanity to the sinner, a breaking of spirit;'' it grieves him that such a man should have what he has been labouring for; or it would, if he knew it. Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 Sacred Texts | Bible « Previous: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Ecclesiastes:... Index Next: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Ecclesiastes:... »

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (22 words)

H3588 כִּי

Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:

for (semantic_range)
when (semantic_range)
when (semantic_range)

H0120 אָדָם

Definition:

27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co 27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co

Possible Meanings:

carnelian (semantic_range)
redness (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)

H6440 פָנִים

Definition:

23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ 23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ

H5414 נָתַן

Definition:

19 + often; Old Hebrewנתןיֿהוproper name, masculine Lzb327; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianיתן,נתןin proper nameמתנת, etc., Lzb292; Lzb327; AssyriannadânuDlHWB 450(rarelyittanIdib.488); Zinj 19 + often; Old Hebrewנתןיֿהוproper name, masculine Lzb327; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianיתן,נתןin proper nameמתנת, etc., Lzb292; Lzb327; AssyriannadânuDlHWB 450(rarelyittanIdib.488); Zinj

Possible Meanings:

give (semantic_range)

H2451 חָכְמָה

Definition:

3106t.; constructחָכְמַתExodus 35:3515t.; suffixחָכְמָתִיEcclesiastes 2:9, etc. + 25 t. suffix; plural abstract emphaticחָכְמוֺתPsalm 49:4;Proverbs 1:20;Proverbs 9:1;Proverbs 24:7;חַכְמוֺתProverbs 14: 3106t.; constructחָכְמַתExodus 35:3515t.; suffixחָכְמָתִיEcclesiastes 2:9, etc. + 25 t. suffix; plural abstract emphaticחָכְמוֺתPsalm 49:4;Proverbs 1:20;Proverbs 9:1;Proverbs 24:7;חַכְמוֺתProverbs 14:

Possible Meanings:

wisdom (semantic_range)

H1847 דַּעַת

Definition:

6Daniel 12:4(masculineProverbs 2:10;Proverbs 14:6, possiblyJob 33:3Ew§174 g)knowledge(properly Infinitive, which appears clearlyGenesis 2:9,17;Jeremiah 22:16) — absoluteדַּ֫עַתGenesis 2:935t.;דָּ֑עַתJ 6Daniel 12:4(masculineProverbs 2:10;Proverbs 14:6, possiblyJob 33:3Ew§174 g)knowledge(properly Infinitive, which appears clearlyGenesis 2:9,17;Jeremiah 22:16) — absoluteדַּ֫עַתGenesis 2:935t.;דָּ֑עַתJ

Possible Meanings:

perception (semantic_range)
skill (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)

H2398 חָטָא

Definition:

31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus 31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus

Possible Meanings:

sinful (semantic_range)
sinners (semantic_range)

H5414 נָתַן

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

give (semantic_range)

H6045 עִנְיָן

Definition:

13occupation, task, only Ecclesiastes (Aramaic loan-word LagBN 205; common in Late Hebrew); —׳עabsoluteEcclesiastes 2:26;Ecclesiastes 3:10;Ecclesiastes 5:2;Ecclesiastes 8:16; suffixכַּעַס עִנְיָנוֺEcc 13occupation, task, only Ecclesiastes (Aramaic loan-word LagBN 205; common in Late Hebrew); —׳עabsoluteEcclesiastes 2:26;Ecclesiastes 3:10;Ecclesiastes 5:2;Ecclesiastes 8:16; suffixכַּעַס עִנְיָנוֺEcc

H0622 אָסַף

Definition:

23+;אָסַפְתָּPsalm 85:4, etc.;Imperfectיֶּאֱסֹף2 Kings 5:3;יַאַסְפֵנִיPsalm 27:10, etc.; alsoוַיֹּסֶף2 Samuel 6:1; 2masculine singularתֹּסֵףPsalm 104:29; 1singularאֹסְפָהMicah 4:6; so probably (suffix 23+;אָסַפְתָּPsalm 85:4, etc.;Imperfectיֶּאֱסֹף2 Kings 5:3;יַאַסְפֵנִיPsalm 27:10, etc.; alsoוַיֹּסֶף2 Samuel 6:1; 2masculine singularתֹּסֵףPsalm 104:29; 1singularאֹסְפָהMicah 4:6; so probably (suffix

Possible Meanings:

store (semantic_range)

H3664 כָּנַס

Definition:

NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefinitionto gather, collectNASB Translationassemble (1), collected (1), collecting (1), gather (4), gathered (1), gathers (2), wrap (1).Brown-Driver-B NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefinitionto gather, collectNASB Translationassemble (1), collected (1), collecting (1), gather (4), gathered (1), gathers (2), wrap (1).Brown-Driver-B

Possible Meanings:

and I will gather you together (semantic_range)
and the covering is (semantic_range)

H5414 נָתַן

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

give (semantic_range)

H2896 טוֹב

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

good things (semantic_range)
goods (semantic_range)
goodness (semantic_range)

H6440 פָנִים

Definition:

H0430 אֱלהִים

Definition:

33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power 33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

Possible Meanings:

divine ones (semantic_range)
angels (semantic_range)
gods (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)

H2088 זֶה

Definition:

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The demonstrative fixes Eve’s identity as God’s specific gift to Adam.• Covenant Signs: “This is the sign of the covenant I am maki “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The demonstrative fixes Eve’s identity as God’s specific gift to Adam.• Covenant Signs: “This is the sign of the covenant I am maki

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)

H7469 רְעוּת

Definition:

14;Ecclesiastes 2:11,17,26;Ecclesiastes 4:4;Ecclesiastes 6:9;רוּחַ׳עָמָל וּרEcclesiastes 4:6.Topical LexiconRange of usageThe term occurs seven times, all in Ecclesiastes (1:14; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4; 14;Ecclesiastes 2:11,17,26;Ecclesiastes 4:4;Ecclesiastes 6:9;רוּחַ׳עָמָל וּרEcclesiastes 4:6.Topical LexiconRange of usageThe term occurs seven times, all in Ecclesiastes (1:14; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4;

Possible Meanings:

longing (semantic_range)
striving (semantic_range)

H7307 רוּחַ

Definition:

8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת 8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת

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