Ecclesiastes 2:2

I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

I said {H559} of laughter {H7814}, It is mad {H1984}: and of mirth {H8057}, What {H2090} doeth {H6213} it?

Of laughter I said, "This is stupid," and of pleasure, "What's the use of it?"

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

Ecclesiastes 2:2 is part of King Solomon's (or Qoheleth's) deep philosophical exploration into the meaning and purpose of life, conducted through various worldly pursuits. After experimenting with the acquisition of pleasure, wealth, and wisdom, he evaluates them against the backdrop of eternity.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Book of Ecclesiastes is a unique piece of Old Testament wisdom literature, traditionally attributed to King Solomon. It reflects a period of immense wealth and power, allowing the author to indulge in every conceivable human experience. The phrase "under the sun" (a recurring motif, e.g., found in Ecclesiastes 1:3) signifies life lived from a purely earthly perspective, without explicit divine revelation or eternal hope, leading to the conclusion that all is "vanity" or "hebel" (meaning breath, vapor, fleeting, or meaningless).

In this chapter, Qoheleth systematically tests the hypothesis that ultimate satisfaction can be found in worldly delights. His assessment of laughter and mirth here is a direct result of this personal, extensive experimentation, not a condemnation of all joy, but of joy sought as an end in itself, apart from God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Emptiness of Worldly Pleasure: The verse highlights the Preacher's realization that boisterous laughter and shallow mirth, when pursued as the ultimate source of happiness, are ultimately hollow. They provide no lasting fulfillment or significant purpose.
  • A Search for Meaning: Qoheleth's rhetorical question, "What doeth it?" underscores his relentless quest for true, enduring meaning beyond superficial experiences. He found that such revelry did not contribute to a meaningful existence.
  • "Mad" Laughter: The KJV's "mad" (Hebrew: holeluth, meaning folly, madness, extravagance) suggests that this kind of laughter is uncontrolled, senseless, and ultimately leads to foolishness rather than genuine joy or wisdom. It's a critique of hedonism that lacks substance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "laughter" is tsechoq, which can refer to genuine joy but also to mocking or boisterous laughter. Here, paired with "mirth" (simchah, meaning joy or gladness), it likely points to a more superficial, perhaps even forced, merriment. The term "mad" (holeluth) carries the connotation of foolishness or irrationality, indicating that such unbridled pursuit of levity is not wise.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 2:2 serves as a timeless reminder that true, lasting joy and satisfaction cannot be found in fleeting pleasures or superficial merriment. While joy and celebration are gifts from God (as seen in other parts of Scripture), when they become the sole pursuit or are detached from a deeper purpose, they ultimately prove empty. This verse encourages us to look beyond temporary thrills for genuine contentment, which the Bible consistently points to as being found in a relationship with God and a life lived according to His will, as emphasized in the conclusion of Ecclesiastes 12:13.

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.

  • Proverbs 14:13

    ¶ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.

  • 1 Peter 4:2

    That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

  • 1 Peter 4:4

    ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you]:

  • Ecclesiastes 7:2

    [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:6

    For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

  • Isaiah 22:12

    And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

  • Isaiah 22:13

    And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

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