Ecclesiastes 2:3 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum?the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his elaboratory, his council-chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the park and the playhouse, his garden and his summer-house; he exchanges the company of the philosophers and grave senators for that of the wits and gallants, and the beaux-esprits, of his court, to try if he could find true satisfaction and happiness among them. Here he takes a great step downward, from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:3

I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine ,.... Not in an immoderate way, so as to intoxicate himself with it, in which there can be no pleasure, nor any show of happiness; but in a moderate, yet liberal way, so as to be innocently cheerful and pleasant, and hereby try what good and happiness were to be possessed in this way. By "wine" is meant, not that only, but everything eatable and drinkable that is good; it signifies what is called good living, good eating and drinking: Solomon... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:3

To give myself unto wine, (yet acquainting [ נהג noheg , "guiding"] mine heart with wisdom) - I did not run into extremes, as when I gave up myself to mirth and pleasure. There, I threw off all restraint; here, I took the middle course, to see whether a moderate enjoyment of the things of the world might not produce that happiness which I supposed man was created to enjoy here below. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Section 2. Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:3

I sought in mine heart ; literally, I spied out (as Ecclesiastes 1:13 ) in my heart . Having proved the fruitlessness of some sort of sensual pleasure, he made another experiment in a philosophical spirit. To give myself unto wine ; literally, to draw ( mashak ) my flesh with wine ; i . e . to use the attraction of the pleasures of the table. Yet acquainting my heart with wisdom. This is a parenthetical clause, which Wright translates, "While my heart was acting... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:3

I sought ... - Rather, I resolved (literally “I turned in my heart”) to draw my flesh with wine (see the margin), my heart guiding me with wisdom. In the course of his attempt to answer the question of Ecclesiastes 1:3, while his heart was directing him (as a charioteer directs his horses or a shepherd his sheep) with wisdom, and while he was following that guidance, he determined to draw with him his flesh by wine, thus making his flesh, which he speaks of as distinct from himself (compare... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:3. I sought to give myself unto wine To gratify myself with delicious meats and drinks; yet acquainting, &c. Yet resolving to use my wisdom, that I might try whether I could not arrive at satisfaction, by mixing wine and wisdom together. To lay hold on folly, &c. To pursue sensual pleasure, which was my folly; till I might see, &c. Till I might find out the true way to contentment and satisfaction, during this mortal life. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Lessons from experience (1:12-2:26)Writing as Solomon, the author now looks back and describes the experiences of a truly wise and wealthy man who searched for a meaning to life. First he tried the study of wisdom, but it led only to misery and frustration. Some things could not be made to fit any sort of consistent pattern; others, which in theory may have solved some problems, in practice did not exist (12-15). His learning and experience enabled him to tell the difference between wisdom and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 2:3

in mine heart : i.e. resolved. to give myself unto: or, how to enlist, by wine, my very flesh [in the work]: i.e. the work of proving the heart with mirth "yet retaining wisdom". wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . wisdom. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 . men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . Note the use of this word in Ecc. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 . under the heaven. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sun", to which it is equivalent. all the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:3. I sought, &c.— I sought in mine heart that I might force my senses into a habit of drinking wine, (yet leading my heart into wisdom,) and that I might apprehend what is in folly, until I should see, where is that good for the children of men, which they pursue under heaven every day of their life. Desvoeux. Solomon's design, as here represented, was, to catch hold of whatever he should find in folly, rather for the improvement of his knowledge, than for the sake of present... read more