Ecclesiastes 2:10

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

And whatsoever mine eyes {H5869} desired {H7592} I kept {H680} not from them, I withheld {H4513} not my heart {H3820} from any joy {H8057}; for my heart {H3820} rejoiced {H8056} in all my labour {H5999}: and this was my portion {H2506} of all my labour {H5999}.

I denied my eyes nothing they wanted. I withheld no pleasure from myself; for I took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward for all my work.

Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:10

Ecclesiastes 2:10 is part of King Solomon's exhaustive personal experiment to find meaning and lasting satisfaction through worldly pursuits. Having already declared all under the sun as "vanity" in Ecclesiastes 1:2, the Preacher (Qoheleth) systematically explores pleasure, wealth, grand building projects, possessions, and even wisdom, to see if any of these could truly fulfill the human heart. This verse summarizes his unbridled pursuit of every desire, holding nothing back in his quest for joy and understanding of life's purpose.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unrestrained Pursuit of Pleasure: Solomon describes a deliberate, no-holds-barred approach to indulging every sensory and emotional desire. He "kept not from them" his eyes' desires and "withheld not his heart from any joy." This highlights a comprehensive investigation into hedonism and worldly delight, seeking to find ultimate satisfaction in created things.
  • Temporary Enjoyment in Labor: The phrase "my heart rejoiced in all my labour" indicates that Solomon did experience a certain level of satisfaction and enjoyment in the process of his endeavors. This immediate gratification was indeed his "portion," or share, from the work itself.
  • The Limits of Earthly Fulfillment: While he found temporary joy in his efforts, the broader context of Ecclesiastes reveals that this enjoyment was ultimately fleeting and did not lead to ultimate meaning or lasting contentment. This verse serves as a crucial setup for the Preacher's eventual conclusion about the vanity of all things apart from God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "portion" is cheleq (חֵלֶק), which signifies an allotted share, inheritance, or reward. In this context, it refers to what Solomon received or gained from his immense efforts. It underscores the idea that the only tangible return for his extensive labor was the enjoyment he experienced during the work, not a profound, enduring satisfaction that transcended the temporal.

Practical Application and Reflection

Ecclesiastes 2:10 offers a profound lesson for contemporary life. In a world constantly pushing consumerism and the pursuit of pleasure, Solomon's experiment serves as a timeless warning. Many today echo his sentiment, believing that if they just acquire enough, experience enough, or achieve enough, true happiness will follow. However, the Preacher's conclusion, found later in the book, is that true fulfillment is found not in earthly pursuits but in fearing God and keeping His commandments.

While there can be legitimate joy in one's work and in enjoying the good things God provides, as seen in Ecclesiastes 5:19, this verse specifically highlights the danger of making these earthly joys the ultimate source of one's satisfaction. It challenges us to examine where we seek our deepest contentment and to recognize that true, lasting joy comes from a relationship with the Creator, not from the created.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • Ecclesiastes 9:9

    Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:18

    ¶ Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion.

  • Psalms 119:37

    ¶ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.

  • Psalms 128:2

    For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:22

    For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

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