Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:4–11

⁴I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. ⁵I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

⁷I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, ⁸and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men — many concubines.

⁹So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰Anything 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.

¹¹Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 2:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I expanded	הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי	hiḡ·dal·tî	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular	H1431 grow up, become great
my pursuits	מַעֲשָׂ֑י	ma·‘ă·śāy	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H4639 deed, work
I built	בָּנִ֤יתִי	bā·nî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1129 build
houses	בָּתִּ֔ים	bāt·tîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1004 house
and planted	נָטַ֥עְתִּי	nā·ṭa‘·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5193 strike, fix, plant
vineyards	כְּרָמִֽים׃	kə·rā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3754 vineyard
for myself	לִ֖י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular

Ecclesiastes 2:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I made	עָשִׂ֣יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
gardens	גַּנּ֖וֹת	gan·nō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H1593 garden
and parks	וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים	ū·p̄ar·dê·sîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H6508 preserve, park
for myself	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
where	בָהֶ֖ם	ḇā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
I planted	וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי	wə·nā·ṭa‘·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H5193 strike, fix, plant
all kinds	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of fruit	פֶּֽרִי׃	pe·rî	Noun - masculine singular	H6529 fruit
trees	עֵ֥ץ	‘êṣ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6086 tree, trees, wood

Ecclesiastes 2:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I built	עָשִׂ֥יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
reservoirs	בְּרֵכ֣וֹת	bə·rê·ḵō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H1295 pool, pond
to water	לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת	lə·haš·qō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H8248 quaff, irrigate, furnish a potion to
my groves	יַ֖עַר	ya·‘ar	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3293 wood, forest, thicket
of flourishing	צוֹמֵ֥חַ	ṣō·w·mê·aḥ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H6779 sprout, spring up
trees	עֵצִֽים׃	‘ê·ṣîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood

Ecclesiastes 2:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I acquired	קָנִ֙יתִי֙	qā·nî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7069 get, acquire
menservants	עֲבָדִ֣ים	‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
and maidservants	וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת	ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H8198 maid, maid-servant
and servants were born	וּבְנֵי־	ū·ḇə·nê-	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
in my house	בַ֖יִת	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
I also	גַּ֣ם	gam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
owned	הָ֣יָה	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
more	הַרְבֵּה֙	har·bêh	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
herds	בָקָ֨ר	ḇā·qār	Noun - masculine singular	H1241 cattle, herd, ox
and flocks	וָצֹ֤אן	wā·ṣōn	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
than anyone	מִכֹּ֛ל	mik·kōl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
in Jerusalem	בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃	bî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
before me	לְפָנַ֖י	lə·p̄ā·nay	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H6440 face, before

Ecclesiastes 2:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and I	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
accumulated	כָּנַ֤סְתִּי	kā·nas·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H3664 gather, collect
for myself	לִי֙	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
silver	כֶּ֣סֶף	ke·sep̄	Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
and gold	וְזָהָ֔ב	wə·zā·hāḇ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H2091 gold
and the treasure	וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת	ū·sə·ḡul·laṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H5459 possession, property
of kings	מְלָכִ֖ים	mə·lā·ḵîm	Noun - masculine plural	H4428 king
and provinces	וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת	wə·ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4082 province
I gathered	עָשִׂ֨יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
to myself	לִ֜י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
male and	שָׁרִ֣ים	šā·rîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H7891 sing
female singers	וְשָׁר֗וֹת	wə·šā·rō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural	H7891 sing
and the delights	וְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛ת	wə·ṯa·‘ă·nū·ḡōṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H8588 daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight
of the sons	בְּנֵ֥י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of men	הָאָדָ֖ם	hā·’ā·ḏām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
many	שִׁדָּ֥ה	šid·dāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7705 wife, mistress
concubines	וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃	wə·šid·dō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H7705 wife, mistress

Ecclesiastes 2:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So I became great	וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי	wə·ḡā·ḏal·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H1431 grow up, become great
and surpassed	וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי	wə·hō·w·sap̄·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H3254 add
all	מִכֹּ֛ל	mik·kōl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
in Jerusalem	בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם	bî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
who had preceded me	שֶׁהָיָ֥ה	še·hā·yāh	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
and	אַ֥ף	’ap̄	Conjunction	H637 also, yea
my wisdom	חָכְמָתִ֖י	ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H2451 wisdom
remained	עָ֥מְדָה	‘ā·mə·ḏāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
with me	לִּֽי׃	lî	Preposition; first person common singular

Ecclesiastes 2:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Anything	וְכֹל֙	wə·ḵōl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
my eyes	עֵינַ֔י	‘ê·nay	Noun - cdc; first person common singular	H5869 eye
desired	שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ	šā·’ă·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H7592 ask, inquire
I did not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
deny myself	אָצַ֖לְתִּי	’ā·ṣal·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H680 lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold
I refused	מָנַ֨עְתִּי	mā·na‘·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H4513 withhold, hold back
my heart	לִבִּ֜י	lib·bî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
no	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
pleasure	שִׂמְחָ֗ה	śim·ḥāh	Noun - feminine singular	H8057 joy, gladness, mirth
For	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
my heart	לִבִּ֤י	lib·bî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
took delight	שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙	śā·mê·aḥ	Adjective - masculine singular	H8056 glad, joyful, merry
in all	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
my work	עֲמָלִ֔י	‘ă·mā·lî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5999 trouble, labour, toil
and this	וְזֶֽה־	wə·zeh-	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
was	הָיָ֥ה	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the reward	חֶלְקִ֖י	ḥel·qî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H2506 portion, tract, territory
for all	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
my labor	עֲמָלִֽי׃	‘ă·mā·lî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5999 trouble, labour, toil

Ecclesiastes 2:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yet when I	אֲנִ֗י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
considered	וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי	ū·p̄ā·nî·ṯî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H6437 turn
all	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the works	מַעֲשַׂי֙	ma·‘ă·śay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H4639 deed, work
that my hands	יָדַ֔י	yā·ḏay	Noun - feminine dual construct; first person common singular	H3027 hand
had accomplished	שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ	še·‘ā·śū	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
and	וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל	ū·ḇe·‘ā·māl	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5999 trouble, labour, toil
I had toiled	שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי	še·‘ā·mal·tî	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5998 labour, toil
to achieve	לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
I found	וְהִנֵּ֨ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
everything	הַכֹּ֥ל	hak·kōl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
to be futile	הֶ֙בֶל֙	he·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath
a pursuit	וּרְע֣וּת	ū·rə·‘ūṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H7469 longing, striving
of the wind	ר֔וּחַ	rū·aḥ	Noun - common singular	H7307 breath, wind, spirit
there was nothing	וְאֵ֥ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
to be gained	יִתְר֖וֹן	yiṯ·rō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H3504 advantage, profit
under	תַּ֥חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃	haš·šā·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun