Ecclesiastes 3:13
What does Ecclesiastes 3:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 3:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ecclesiastes 3:13 means
This verse expands on the idea of finding contentment, asserting that "every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God." It highlights that the simple, tangible pleasures of life, such as sustenance, and the satisfaction derived from one's work, are not merely earned but are divine provisions. This perspective elevates everyday experiences, framing them as gracious endowments from God, encouraging believers to receive and enjoy them with gratitude, rather than seeing them as mere outcomes of toil.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And for every man to take food and drink, and have joy in all his work, is a reward from God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862yea, even every man who eateth and hath drunk and seen good by all his labour, it <FI>is<Fi> a gift of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890yea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift ofGod.
Context
This verse elaborates on the positive counsel given in verse 12—to rejoice and do good. Here, the Preacher defines how this joy manifests, linking it directly to the enjoyment of daily provisions and the fruits of labor. It clarifies that these are not achieved by human effort alone but are direct gifts from God, further emphasizing God's sovereignty and benevolence despite the mystery of His eternal plan, leading into deeper theological reflections in verse 14.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 28:30
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.
- Psalms 128:2
For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.
- Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a manthanthat he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
- Isaiah 65:21
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18
Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.
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