Ecclesiastes 11:7 kjv
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Ecclesiastes 11:7 nkjv
Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;
Ecclesiastes 11:7 niv
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
Ecclesiastes 11:7 esv
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
Ecclesiastes 11:7 nlt
Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:4 | "God saw that the light was good..." | God's creation of light |
| Gen 1:16-18 | "...God made the two great lights—the greater for ruling the day and the lesser for ruling the night. He made the stars also." | Celestial bodies |
| Deut 33:2 | "The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir unto them; he shone forth from mount Paran..." | God's appearance as light |
| Psa 56:13 | "...that I may walk before God in the light of life." | Divine illumination |
| Psa 89:15 | "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound, who walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance." | Joy in God's presence |
| Psa 139:12 | "...darkness is as bright as the day, for darkness and light are alike to You." | God's omnipresence |
| Isa 9:2 | "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light..." | Prophecy of the Messiah |
| Isa 60:1 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." | Restoration of Israel |
| Matt 5:16 | "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." | Christian conduct |
| Matt 13:43 | "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." | Future glory |
| John 1:4-5 | "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." | Jesus as Light |
| John 8:12 | "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”" | Jesus as Light of World |
| John 9:4-5 | "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." | Jesus' mission |
| Acts 26:13 | "...I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun..." | Paul's conversion |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." | Spiritual illumination |
| Eph 5:8 | "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light..." | Transformation in Christ |
| Phil 2:15 | "...that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world," | Christian witness |
| 1 Thess 5:5 | "You are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." | Believers' identity |
| 1 John 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." | Fellowship and cleansing |
| Rev 21:23-25 | "The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk by its light..." | New Jerusalem's light |
Ecclesiastes 11 verses
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Meaning
Light is pleasant, and seeing the sun is a good thing.
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 11 offers a series of practical instructions for life, encouraging generosity, diligence, and preparedness for future challenges. This specific verse, verse 7, stands as a simple, declarative statement about the joy found in light and life itself. It follows advice on investing in various ventures, acknowledging the uncertainty of the future (v. 1-6). The verse acts as an uplifting preamble to further reflections on enjoying the present moment and remembering one's Creator before the adversities of old age arrive (v. 8-10). The overall tone of the chapter, despite its acknowledgment of vanity, is one of enjoying God's good gifts.
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Word analysis
And: A conjunction linking clauses, indicating addition or continuation.
sweet: Hebrew: "matok" (מָתֹק). Meaning pleasant, agreeable, delightful. It speaks of sensory enjoyment and positive feeling.
is: A form of the verb "to be."
the: Definite article.
light: Hebrew: "or" (אוֹר). Meaning light, brightness, illumination. Symbolically, it represents understanding, joy, prosperity, and life.
pleasant: Hebrew: "Tov" (טוֹב). Also translated as good, pleasant, delightful, beneficial. Reinforces the positive aspect of light.
and: Another conjunction.
it: Refers back to "light."
good: Hebrew: "Tov" (טוֹב). Same word as "pleasant" here, emphasizing the inherent goodness of seeing and experiencing light.
for: Indicates reason or purpose.
the: Definite article.
eyes: Hebrew: "einayim" (עֵינַיִם). The organs of sight, symbolizing perception and the ability to behold.
to: Preposition indicating direction or reception.
see: Hebrew: "ra'ah" (רָאָה). To see, behold, perceive, experience.
the: Definite article.
sun: Hebrew: "shemesh" (שֶׁמֶשׁ). The sun, the primary source of light during the day, representing sustenance and life's continued operation.
The experience of light: The verse pairs the sensory experience of "sweet light" with the positive "goodness" of "seeing the sun." Both highlight the pleasure derived from these natural phenomena.
Divine origin: While not explicit in this verse alone, throughout Scripture, light is consistently linked to God as its source and as a representation of His character and presence (Gen 1:3, John 1:4, 1 John 1:5).
Life and perception: Seeing the sun implies the continued function of one's eyes and the continuation of life, allowing for perception and appreciation of God's creation.
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Bonus Section
The simplicity of this verse offers a profound contrast to the more complex reflections on vanity found elsewhere in Ecclesiastes. It is a moment of unadulterated enjoyment, similar to what a father might express to a child delighting in a sunny day. This appreciation for light and seeing connects to broader biblical themes: God is light (1 John 1:5), Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12), and believers are called to walk in the light. The verse highlights not just a sensory pleasure, but also the deeper blessing of living under God's sustained provision and order, where light regularly triumphs over darkness.
Ecclesiastes 11 7 Commentary
This verse is a simple affirmation of life's goodness, rooted in the experience of natural light and the ability to perceive it. It underscores that beyond the vanities and uncertainties of life, there are inherent pleasures in the simple fact of existing and being able to witness the Creator's work, particularly the life-giving sun. It serves as a gentle reminder to appreciate the present gifts of God. In practice, this means taking a moment to be grateful for the morning sun, the clear sky, or simply the ability to see the world around us. It encourages a mindset of gratitude that can find joy even amidst difficulties, recognizing these simple elements as manifestations of God's consistent goodness and provision.