Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 7:2–3

²It is better to enter a house of mourning

than a house of feasting,

since death is the end of every man,

and the living should take this to heart.

³Sorrow is better than laughter,

for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

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.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
It is better	ט֞וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
to enter	לָלֶ֣כֶת	lā·le·ḵeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
a house	בֵּֽית־	bêṯ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of mourning	אֵ֗בֶל	’ê·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H60 mourning
than	מִלֶּ֙כֶת֙	mil·le·ḵeṯ	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
a house	בֵּ֣ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of feasting	מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה	miš·teh	Noun - masculine singular	H4960 feast
since	בַּאֲשֶׁ֕ר	ba·’ă·šer	Preposition-b; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the end	ס֣וֹף	sō·wp̄	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5490 end
of every	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
man	הָאָדָ֑ם	hā·’ā·ḏām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
and the living	וְהַחַ֖י	wə·ha·ḥay	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
should take	יִתֵּ֥ן	yit·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
heart	לִבּֽוֹ׃	lib·bōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Sorrow	כַּ֖עַס	ka·‘as	Noun - masculine singular	H3708 vexation, anger
is better	ט֥וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
than laughter	מִשְּׂחֹ֑ק	miś·śə·ḥōq	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H7814 laughter, derision, sport
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a sad	בְרֹ֥עַ	ḇə·rō·a‘	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7455 badness, evil
countenance	פָּנִ֖ים	pā·nîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6440 face, before
is good	יִ֥יטַב	yî·ṭaḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
for the heart	לֵֽב׃	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 Psalm 90:12 · Hebrews 9:27 · Deuteronomy 32:29 · Deuteronomy 32:46 · Philippians 3:19 · 1 Peter 4:3–4 · Haggai 1:5

Ecclesiastes 7:3 2 Corinthians 7:9–11 · Romans 5:3–4 · James 4:8–10 · John 16:20–22 · Jeremiah 31:15–20 · James 1:2–4 · Hebrews 12:10–11 · 2 Corinthians 4:17 · Jeremiah 31:8–9 · Luke 6:21 · Psalm 119:71 · Zechariah 12:10–14

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.