Ecclesiastes 10:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

Solomon here observes, I. How much the happiness of a land depends upon the character of its rulers; it is well or ill with the people according as the princes are good or bad. 1. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish and voluptuous (Eccl. 10:16): Woe unto thee, O land! even the land of Canaan itself, though otherwise the glory of all lands, when thy king is a child, not so much in age (Solomon himself was young when his kingdom was happy in him) as in understanding; when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter ,.... Or, "who make bread for laughter" F9 לשחוק עשים לחם "ad risum facientes panem", Montanus; "faciunt panem", Paganinus, Mercerus, Piscator. . Not bakers, who make bread for common use, and for all sorts of persons, sorrowful ones as others; but luxurious men, particularly such princes as are before described; they "make bread", that is, a feast, as the phrase is used, Daniel 5:1 ; not for mere refreshment, but to promote mirth and gaiety to an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter - The object of it is to produce merriment, to banish care and concern of every kind. But who are they who make and frequent such places? Epicures and drunkards generally; such as those of whom Horace speaks: Nos numerus sumus, et fruges consumere nati . Epist. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 27. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

Section 15. Koheleth returns to the theme mentioned in Ecclesiastes 10:4-7 . and speaks of folly in one who holds the position of king, and the need of wisdom and prudence in the subjects of an unworthy ruler. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry . Here is a cause of the decay spoken of above. The rulers spend in revelry and debauchery the time and energy which they ought to give to affairs of state. More literally, for merriment they make bread, and wine [that] cheereth life ; i.e. they use God's good gifts of bread and wine as means of intemperance and thoughtless pleasure. So a psalmist speaks of wine as making glad the heart of man ( Psalms 104:15 ); and Ben-Sira says,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king.Ecclesiastes 10:16A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old.Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11).Ecclesiastes 10:17Son of nobles - i. e., of a noble... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 10:19

Ecclesiastes 10:19. A feast is made for laughter, &c. Not merely for caring, but chiefly for pleasant conversation, and the society of friends; not the laughter of fools, which is madness, but that of wise men, namely, that cheerfulness by which they fit themselves for business and severe studies: and wine maketh merry Hebrew, ישׂמח חיים , maketh glad the life, exhilarates the mind; but money answereth all things Procures not only meat and drink for feasting, but all other worldly... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20)A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. Riches, status and a show of power are the things people admire. If a person lacks these, he is ignored or despised, even though his quiet words of wisdom may save a city from destruction (13-18).One foolish act can spoil a lot of good. Stupidity leads to wrongdoing and marks a person out as a fool in the eyes of everyone... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 10:19

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . maketh merry = will gladden life. Compare Psalms 104:15 . answereth all things = maketh everything respond [to their requirements]: i.e. will procure both [feast and wine]. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:19 , the only two occurrences of 'anah in this book. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:19

"A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.""Feasting makes you happy, and wine cheers you up, but you can't have either without money."[22] "Men make a feast for enjoyment, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is everyone's concern."[23] This relationship between drinking wine and feasting on the one hand, and providing the funds to pay for it on the other hand, reminds us of a song that became popular back during the days of the depression,... read more

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