Ecclesiastes 2:10 kjv

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 nkjv

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 niv

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 esv

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 nlt

Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

MeaningEcclesiastes 2:10 details the Preacher's unbridled pursuit of every earthly desire and pleasure. He held back nothing from what his eyes coveted or what his heart yearned for in the realm of material acquisition, sensual indulgence, and personal accomplishment. The verse reveals that the sole, discernible satisfaction he extracted from this exhaustive enterprise was a momentary joy found in the very process and labor of his endeavors. This transient, internal gratification, stemming from his striving rather than from any enduring benefit of the things attained, comprised his entire "portion" or reward for his vast undertakings, emphasizing the limited and ultimately fleeting nature of such worldly pursuits.

Cross References

ContextEcclesiastes 2:10 concludes Koheleth's detailed account of his experimental quest to discover ultimate satisfaction in various worldly endeavors "under the sun." Preceding this verse, he describes building grand structures, establishing vineyards and gardens, acquiring vast herds, immense wealth, male and female singers, and every form of human delight (Ecc 2:4-8). His purpose in this extreme indulgence, as outlined in Ecc 2:1-3, was to test whether "mirth" and "pleasure" could truly bring good. Verse 10 represents the climax of this unparalleled personal pursuit, where no desire or joy was left unexamined. Immediately following, Koheleth pronounces his verdict in Ecc 2:11, declaring all his grand undertakings to be "vanity and grasping for the wind," yielding no lasting benefit. The chapter thereby provides a comprehensive argument against seeking life's purpose in materialism and sensory gratification, framing it within the historical context of a powerful, wise king (often understood as Solomon) who had access to every possible means to test this hypothesis. It stands as a profound critique of any worldview that prioritizes human desires above a relationship with the Divine.

Word analysis

• And whatsoever mine eyes desired (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר שָׁאֲלוּ עֵינַי - v'chol asher sha'alu einai):

  • וְכֹל (v'chol): Signifies comprehensive scope; 'all that,' 'every single thing.'
  • אֲשֶׁר שָׁאֲלוּ (asher sha'alu): Literally "that asked for." The verb sha'al (שׁאל), usually 'to ask,' here conveys a strong craving or passionate yearning, emphasizing deep internal desire rather than mere sight.
  • עֵינַי (einai): "My eyes." Represents perception and outward focus; that which captures visual attention and sparks covetousness, embodying the "lust of the eyes" (1 Jn 2:16). Koheleth's quest originated with external stimulation.

• I kept not from them (לֹא מָנַעְתִּי מֵהֶם - lo mana'ti mehem):

  • לֹא מָנַעְתִּי (lo mana'ti): "I did not withhold/restrain." The verb mana' (מנע) signifies purposeful non-restraint. It emphasizes Koheleth's active choice to give in to every impulse and desire without self-control or denial, distinguishing him as one who truly pushed the boundaries of experience.

• I withheld not my heart from any joy (לִבִּי לֹא מָנַעְתִּי מִכָּל שִׂמְחָה - libbi lo mana'ti mi'kol simchah):

  • לִבִּי (libbi): "My heart." Represents the totality of the inner being—emotions, intellect, will, and desires. Koheleth permitted his deepest being to be fully engaged in all forms of pleasure-seeking.
  • לֹא מָנַעְתִּי (lo mana'ti): Repeats "I did not withhold," reinforcing the absolute extent of his indulgence, applied now to the inner experience of joy.
  • מִכָּל שִׂמְחָה (mi'kol simchah): "From any joy/gladness." Simchah (שׂמחה) means gladness or pleasure. This extends the indulgence beyond material possessions to abstract forms of delight—intellectual, emotional, social.

• for my heart rejoiced in all my labour (כִּי לִבִּי שָׂמֵחַ בְּכָל עֲמָלִי - ki libbi sameach b'chol amali):

  • כִּי לִבִּי שָׂמֵחַ (ki libbi sameach): "For my heart rejoiced/was glad." Samach (שׂמח) implies a genuine, though perhaps temporary, feeling of pleasure. This "joy" is the internal feeling derived.
  • בְּכָל עֲמָלִי (b'chol amali): "In all my labour/toil." Amal (עמל) is significant; it denotes laborious, often painful or wearying exertion. Koheleth's satisfaction stemmed from the process of his hard work and accomplishments, rather than the lasting benefit or enduring contentment from the acquisitions themselves. The "joy" was in the striving, the constant application of self, a profound point given the negative connotations of amal elsewhere in Ecclesiastes.

• and this was my portion of all my labour (וְזֶה הָיָה חֶלְקִי מִכָּל עֲמָלִי - v'zeh hayah chelqi mi'kol amali):

  • וְזֶה הָיָה חֶלְקִי (v'zeh hayah chelqi): "And this was my portion/share." Chelqi (חלקי) refers to one's allotted share or inheritance. It marks the ultimate, often meager, return for his life's monumental efforts.
  • מִכָּל עֲמָלִי (mi'kol amali): "From all my labour/toil." The repetition of amal (toil) underscores that his fleeting internal joy in the effort itself was the sum total of his enduring gain. Nothing more, nothing lasting was yielded from his intense work than the satisfaction of the exertion.

CommentaryEcclesiastes 2:10 is the pinnacle of Koheleth’s personal research into worldly satisfaction, a stark admission of boundless self-indulgence. He explored the very depths of sensory and intellectual pleasure, meticulously denying himself no desire. However, the true significance lies not in the amount of pleasure he experienced, but in the source and outcome of that pleasure. He found his "joy" not in the final possessions or experiences, but specifically in the arduous labor itself—the striving, the achieving, the building. This speaks to a deeply human tendency to find fleeting gratification in productivity and personal effort, yet it yielded no lasting fulfillment. This temporary internal sense of achievement became his entire "portion," signaling the profound inadequacy of even the most successful "under the sun" pursuits to provide enduring meaning or ultimate rest. It powerfully sets the stage for his repeated lament of "vanity," showing that joy tied only to human effort is ultimately unfulfilling.

Bonus sectionThe use of "portion" (chelqi) resonates throughout biblical literature. In a spiritual context (e.g., Psa 73:26; Psa 119:57; Lam 3:24), "portion" often refers to God Himself as the ultimate source of one's inheritance and satisfaction. By claiming his "portion" from "all my labour" and finding it to be merely the fleeting joy in that toil, Koheleth subtly highlights the inadequacy of human-generated "portion" versus the divine. His rigorous personal experimentation contrasts with reliance on divine revelation or grace, leading to the "under the sun" worldview where even great accomplishments ultimately prove hollow. This verse can serve as a potent reminder for believers not to seek ultimate identity, fulfillment, or reward in the works of their hands or the abundance of their possessions.