Bible/Ecclesiastes/2/3

Bible > Ecclesiastes > Chapter 2 > Verse 3

Ecclesiastes 2:3

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← Ecclesiastes 2:2	Ecclesiastes 2:3 (KJV)	Ecclesiastes 2:4 →
I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?	I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.	I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

Verse Text

KJV with Strong's Numbers

I sought^H8446 in mine heart^H3820 to give^H4900 myself^H1320 unto wine^H3196, yet acquainting^H5090 mine heart^H3820 with wisdom^H2451; and to lay hold^H270 on folly^H5531, till I might see^H7200 what was that good^H2896 for the sons^H1121 of men^H120, which they should do^H6213 under the heaven^H8064 all^H4557 the days^H3117 of their life^H2416.

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Original Hebrew

תַּרְתִּי בְלִבִּי לִמְשֹׁוךְ בַּיַּיִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִי וְלִבִּי נֹהֵג בַּחָכְמָה וְלֶאֱחֹז בְּסִכְלוּת עַד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶה אֵי־זֶה טֹוב לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם מִסְפַּר יְמֵי חַיֵּיהֶם׃

Hebrew	Transliteration	Strong's	Morphology	Gloss
תַּ֣רְתִּי	Tar.ti	H8446	HVqp1cs	I searched
בְ/לִבִּ֔/י	ve./li.B/i	H3820	HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs	in/ heart/ my
לִ/מְשׁ֥וֹךְ	li/m.Shokh	H4900	HR/Vqc	to/ gratify
בַּ/יַּ֖יִן	ba/i.Ya.yin	H3196	HRd/Ncmsa	with (the)/ wine
אֶת	'et-	H853	HTo	(obj.)
בְּשָׂרִ֑/י	be.sa.R/i	H1320	HNcmsc/Sp1cs	flesh/ my
וְ/לִבִּ֞/י	ve./li.B/i	H3820	HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs	and/ heart/ my
נֹהֵ֤ג	no.Heg	H5090	HVqrmsa	(was) guiding
בַּֽ/חָכְמָה֙	ba./cha.khe.Mah	H2451	HRd/Ncfsa	with (the)/ wisdom
וְ/לֶ/אֱחֹ֣ז	ve./le./'e.Choz	H270	HC/R/Vqc	and/ to/ take hold
בְּ/סִכְל֔וּת	be./sikh.Lut	H5531	HR/Ncfsa	on/ folly
עַ֣ד	'ad	H5704	HR	until
אֲשֶׁר	'a.Sher-	H834	HTr	that
אֶרְאֶ֗ה	'er.'Eh	H7200	HVqi1cs	I saw
אֵי	'ei-	H335	HTi	where?
זֶ֨ה	zeh	H2088	HPdxms	this
ט֜וֹב	Tov	H2896	HAamsa	(is) good
לִ/בְנֵ֤י	li/v.Nei	H1121	HR/Ncmpc	for/ (the) children of
הָ/אָדָם֙	ha./'a.Dam	H120	HTd/Ncmsa	(the)/ humankind
אֲשֶׁ֤ר	'a.Sher	H834	HTr	which
יַעֲשׂוּ֙	ya.'a.Su	H6213	HVqi3mp	they will do
תַּ֣חַת	Ta.chat	H8478	HR	under
הַ/שָּׁמַ֔יִם	ha./sha.Ma.yim	H8064	HTd/Ncmpa	the/ heavens
מִסְפַּ֖ר	mis.Par	H4557	HNcmsc	(the) number of
יְמֵ֥י	ye.Mei	H3117	HNcmpc	(the) days of
חַיֵּי/הֶֽם	chai.yei./Hem	H2416	HNcmpc/Sp3mp	lives/ their

Source: Westminster Leningrad Codex (MorphHB), TAHOT (Tyndale House)

Strong's References

• H120 — אָדָם (ʼâdâm, aw-dawm'): from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
• H270 — אָחַז (ʼâchaz, aw-khaz'): a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession); [phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).
• H1121 — בֵּן (bên, bane): from בָּנָה; 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 father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
• H1320 — בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, baw-sawr'): from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.
• H2416 — חַי (chay, khah'-ee): from חָיָה; 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; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
• H2451 — חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, khok-maw'): from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
• H2896 — טוֹב (ṭôwb, tobe): from טוֹב; 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); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
• H3117 — יוֹם (yôwm, yome): from an unused root meaning to be hot; 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); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
• H3196 — יַיִן (yayin, yah'-yin): from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).
• H3820 — לֵב (lêb, labe): a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
• H4557 — מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, mis-pawr'): from סָפַר; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration; [phrase] abundance, account, [idiom] all, [idiom] few, (in-) finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, [phrase] time.
• H4900 — מָשַׁךְ (mâshak, maw-shak'): a primitive root; 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.); draw (along, out), continue, defer, extend, forbear, [idiom] give, handle, make (pro-, sound) long, [idiom] sow, scatter, stretch out.
• H5090 — נָהַג (nâhag, naw-hag'): a primitive root; 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; acquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth).
• H5531 — סִכְלוּת (çiklûwth, sik-looth'): or שִׂכְלוּת; (Ecclesiastes 1:17), from סָכַל; silliness; folly, foolishness.
• H6213 — עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, aw-saw'): a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
• H7200 — רָאָה (râʼâh, raw-aw'): a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
• H8064 — שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, shaw-mah'-yim): dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; 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); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
• H8446 — תּוּר (tûwr, toor): a primitive root; to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially fortrade or reconnoitring; chap(-man), sent to descry, be excellent, merchant(-man), search (out), seek, (e-) spy (out).

The following Strong's numbers are referenced in the Hebrew (Westminster Leningrad Codex) text but were not explicitly tagged in the KJV source:

• H335 — אַי (ʼay, ah'ee): perhaps from אַיִן; where? hence how?; how, what, whence, where, whether, which (way).
• H834 — אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, ash-er'): a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
• H853 — אֵת (ʼêth, ayth): apparent contracted from אוֹת in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
• H2088 — זֶה (zeh, zeh): a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that; he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare זֹאת, זֹה, זוֹ, זוּ.
• H5704 — עַד (ʻad, ad): properly, the same as עַד (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with); against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.
• H8478 — תַּחַת (tachath, takh'-ath): from the same as תּוֹחַ; the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.; as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with.

Cross References

Verse Cross-References (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Enhanced)

• all — Genesis 47:9, Job 14:14, Psalms 90:9-12
• and to lay — Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:29-35, Ecclesiastes 7:18, Matthew 6:24, 2 Corinthians 6:15-17
• sought — 1 Samuel 25:36, Ecclesiastes 1:17
• till — Ecclesiastes 6:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13
• yet — Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 31:4-5, Ephesians 5:18

Reciprocal references (5): Psalms 4:6, Psalms 34:12, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Ecclesiastes 6:11, 1 Peter 3:10

Related Topics

• Thompson Chain: TEMPERANCE-INTEMPERANCE
• Torrey’s: VANITY
• Nave’s: EPICUREANS, INVESTIGATION, PLEASURE, VANITY, WINE, WISDOM, WORLDLINESS

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Bible › Ecclesiastes › Ecclesiastes 2 › Verse 3