Go
Articles on

Ecclesiastes 2

Eccl. 2:3 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
3
I sought
tuwr (Hebrew #8446)
to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially for trade or reconnoitring
KJV usage: chap(-man), sent to descry, be excellent, merchant(-man), search (out), seek, (e-)spy (out).
Pronounce: toor
Origin: a primitive root
in mine heart
leb (Hebrew #3820)
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
KJV usage: + care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom.
Pronounce: labe
Origin: a form of 3824
to σgive
mashak (Hebrew #4900)
to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
KJV usage: draw (along, out), continue, defer, extend, forbear, X give, handle, make (pro-, sound)long, X sow, scatter, stretch out.
Pronounce: maw-shak'
Origin: a primitive root
myself
basar (Hebrew #1320)
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man
KJV usage: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
Pronounce: baw-sawr'
Origin: from 1319
unto wine
yayin (Hebrew #3196)
wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
KJV usage: banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).
Pronounce: yah'-yin
Origin: from an unused root meaning to effervesce
g, yet acquainting
nahag (Hebrew #5090)
to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh
KJV usage: acquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth).
Pronounce: naw-hag'
Origin: a primitive root
mine heart
leb (Hebrew #3820)
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
KJV usage: + care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom.
Pronounce: labe
Origin: a form of 3824
with wisdom
chokmah (Hebrew #2451)
wisdom (in a good sense)
KJV usage: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
Pronounce: khok-maw'
Origin: from 2449
; and to lay hold
'achaz (Hebrew #270)
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
KJV usage: + be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).
Pronounce: aw-khaz'
Origin: a primitive root
on folly
cikluwth (Hebrew #5531)
from 5528; silliness
KJV usage: folly, foolishness.
Pronounce: sik-looth'
Origin: or sikluwth (Eccl. 1:17) {sik-looth'}
, till I might see
ra'ah (Hebrew #7200)
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
KJV usage: advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
Pronounce: raw-aw'
Origin: a primitive root
what was that good
towb (Hebrew #2896)
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 good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
KJV usage: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ((-favoured)).
Pronounce: tobe
Origin: from 2895
for the sons
ben (Hebrew #1121)
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.))
KJV usage: + afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Pronounce: bane
Origin: from {SI 11129}1129{/SI}
of men
'adam (Hebrew #120)
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
KJV usage: X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
Pronounce: aw-dawm'
Origin: from 119
, which they should do
`asah (Hebrew #6213)
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows)
KJV usage: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Pronounce: aw-saw'
Origin: a primitive root
under the heaven
shamayim (Hebrew #8064)
from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)
KJV usage: air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).
Pronounce: shaw-mah'-yim
Origin: dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}
βall
micpar (Hebrew #4557)
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
KJV usage: + abundance, account, X all, X few, (in-)finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, + time.
Pronounce: mis-pawr'
Origin: from 5608
the days
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
of their life
chay (Hebrew #2416)
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
KJV usage: + age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
Pronounce: khah'-ee
Origin: from 2421
.
σ
draw my flesh with.
g
Prov. 20:1• 1Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise. (Prov. 20:1)
β
the number of the days.

More on:

+
Heart,
Heaven,
Life,
Wine

Cross References

+
sought.
Eccl. 1:17• 17And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind. (Eccl. 1:17)
;
1 Sam. 25:36• 36And Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was drunken to excess; so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (1 Sam. 25:36)
give myself unto wine.
Heb. draw my flesh with wine.
yet.
Prov. 20:1• 1Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise. (Prov. 20:1)
;
Prov. 31:4‑5• 4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink?
 5--lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction. (Prov. 31:4‑5)
;
Eph. 5:18• 18And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, (Eph. 5:18)
and to lay.
Eccl. 7:18• 18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all. (Eccl. 7:18)
;
Prov. 20:1• 1Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise. (Prov. 20:1)
;
Prov. 23:29‑35• 29Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who contentions? Who complaining? Who wounds without cause? Who redness of eyes?
 30--They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to try mixed wine.
 31Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:
 32at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
 33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall speak froward things;
 34and thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, and as he that lieth down upon the top of a mast:
 35--"They have smitten me, and I am not sore; they have beaten me, and I knew it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." (Prov. 23:29‑35)
;
Matt. 6:24• 24No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and will love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt. 6:24)
;
2 Cor. 6:15‑17• 15and what consent of Christ with Beliar, or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever?
 16and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for *ye* are the living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.
 17Wherefore come out from the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean, and *I* will receive you; (2 Cor. 6:15‑17)
till.
Eccl. 6:12• 12For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun? (Eccl. 6:12)
;
Eccl. 12:13• 13Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
all.
Heb. the number of.
Gen. 47:9• 9And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojourning are a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they do not attain to the days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the days of their sojourning. (Gen. 47:9)
;
Job 14:14• 14(If a man die, shall he live again?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come: (Job 14:14)
;
Psa. 90:9‑12• 9For all our days pass away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a passing thought.
 10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
 11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? and thy wrath according to the fear of thee?
 12So teach us to number our days, that we may acquire a wise heart. (Psa. 90:9‑12)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
3
I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practisinge my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of menb which they should do under the heavens allf the days of their life.

JND Translation Notes

+
e
Or "exercising."
b
Or "sons of the Adam"; often in this book. The Adam is also frequent. see Gen. 1.27.
f
Lit. "the number of." so chs. 5.18; 6.12.