Ecclesiastes 2:3 kjv

I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 nkjv

I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 niv

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly?my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 esv

I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine ? my heart still guiding me with wisdom ? and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 nlt

After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

Ecclesiastes 2 verses

Ecclesiastes 2 3 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:3 describes the Preacher’s (Qoheleth's) deliberate and systematic experiment with various forms of worldly enjoyment and pursuits, including sensual gratification and foolishness. He describes a purposeful inquiry into pleasure (represented by wine for his "flesh") while crucially maintaining intellectual control and direction through "wisdom." His objective was not mere abandon but a calculated scientific endeavor: to determine what type of worldly good or earthly pursuit could genuinely bring lasting satisfaction and prove beneficial for humanity throughout the entirety of their limited lives "under heaven," independent of divine revelation as the primary source of meaning.

Ecclesiastes 2 3 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 2 describes the Preacher’s extensive and deliberate quest to find lasting meaning and satisfaction through various earthly pursuits beyond mere wisdom, which he explored in chapter 1. Having concluded that pure intellectual wisdom alone does not prevent the futility of life "under the sun," he embarks on an empirical "scientific" study, testing different categories of pleasure and accomplishment. Verse 3 specifically details the initial phase of this experiment: exploring hedonism (wine and gratifying the flesh) and embracing folly, all while meticulously guided by his intellect, in a bid to ascertain if these paths could yield true good for humankind throughout their brief earthly existence. This passage sets the stage for the Preacher's subsequent revelations on the vanity inherent in all these human endeavors when pursued apart from a God-centered life.

Ecclesiastes 2 3 Word analysis

• "I searched": The Hebrew word for "searched" (darash - דָּרַשׁ) implies a diligent, careful, and often laborious inquiry or investigation, not a casual observation. It is a verb often used for seeking God or seeking truth, highlighting the intentional and purposeful nature of the Preacher's experiment, even in pursuing apparent folly.
• "in my heart": Refers to his innermost being, his mind, will, and intellect. This signifies that his inquiry was internal, a thought process, a strategy being applied by his deliberate consciousness. It was a calculated, controlled test.
• "how to gratify my flesh": The phrase "gratify my flesh" (משׁך בְּשָׂרִי, mashakh besariv, literally "to draw my flesh") refers to indulging the body in pleasure. "Draw" suggests enticement or allure. This indicates an active pulling toward sensual satisfaction, symbolizing a broader range of bodily pleasures and physical delights beyond just drink.
• "with wine": Yayin (יַיִן) is specifically "wine." In the Bible, wine is associated with both blessing and merriment, but also with excess, debauchery, and folly (Prov 20:1, 23:29-35). Here, it symbolizes sensual indulgence, the primary form of gratification Qoheleth tested.
• "yet guiding my heart": Noheg (נֹהֵג) means "driving," "leading," "guiding," "controlling." This is a crucial element. Despite indulging, the Preacher ensures his inner being, his rational mind (lev - לֵבִי), remains in control and actively directing the process. This transforms the indulgence from reckless sin into a controlled, philosophical experiment.
• "with wisdom": Chochmah (חׇכְמָה) refers to the practical application of knowledge, discernment, and skill. The Preacher is using his wisdom to manage his pursuit of pleasure, ensuring it remains an intellectual exploration rather than uncontrolled vice. This highlights the paradox: wisdom used to examine folly.
• "and how to lay hold on folly": Le’ekhoz ba'siklût (וְלֶאֱחֹז בַּסִּכְלוּת), literally "to seize on folly." Sikhloot (סִכְלוּת) means foolishness, often referring to practical absurdity, stupidity, or silliness that leads to empty results. "To lay hold on" suggests not just encountering folly but actively embracing it, experimenting with foolish choices or empty pleasures.
• "till I might see": Ere’eh (אֶרְאֶה) from ra'ah means "to see," "to perceive," "to discern." This expresses the investigative purpose – to find out, to discover. The goal was to acquire empirical knowledge through personal experience.
• "what was good": Tov (טוֹב) means "good," referring to what is beneficial, pleasant, satisfactory, or truly valuable. This is the central question Qoheleth is seeking to answer – the ultimate good that life "under the sun" can offer.
• "for the sons of men to do": This universalizes the quest. The Preacher’s search is for a good applicable to all humanity.
• "under heaven": Tahat hashshamayim (תַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם). This phrase is synonymous with "under the sun" found throughout Ecclesiastes. It defines the realm of human earthly experience, distinct from the transcendent or divine realm. It frames the inquiry within the limits of observation and human endeavor, apart from direct divine revelation.
• "all the days of their lives": Mispar yemei chayyeihem (מִסְפַּר יְמֵי חַיֵּיהֶם), literally "the number of the days of their lives," emphasizes the finite and appointed lifespan of humanity. The search for "good" is for something lasting throughout their entire earthly, mortal existence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I searched in my heart... yet guiding my heart with wisdom": This highlights the deliberate and calculated nature of the experiment. It wasn't uncontrolled indulgence but a researcher applying an intellectual lens to even the most carnal or foolish pursuits. Wisdom became a tool for observation rather than an ethical compass for steering clear of sin.
• "how to gratify my flesh with wine... and how to lay hold on folly": This phrase group details the two key areas of earthly pursuits being investigated: sensual pleasure (wine/flesh) and foolish endeavors/empty pleasures (folly). They represent the spectrum of "worldly delights."
• "till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives": This phrase clarifies the purpose, scope, and duration of the Preacher's comprehensive inquiry. The quest for "what is good" is framed within a purely earthly, empirical, and temporal context, aimed at understanding universal human experience within its inherent limitations.

Ecclesiastes 2 3 Bonus section

The Preacher’s methodology here could be seen as an ancient form of empirical research, using himself as the subject. His experiment highlights the limitations of human wisdom when it attempts to find ultimate answers or lasting happiness by itself, apart from acknowledging the divine. True wisdom, as taught elsewhere in Scripture (Prov 9:10, Ps 111:10), begins with the fear of the Lord, which Qoheleth later affirms (Eccl 12:13). This verse, therefore, implicitly serves as a prelude to demonstrate the necessary futility of any path that does not properly center on the Creator, despite humanity's best efforts and intellectual rigor.

Ecclesiastes 2 3 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:3 provides insight into the Preacher’s methodical approach to testing the hypothesis that earthly pleasure and achievements can bring lasting satisfaction. He engaged in a bold and often paradoxical experiment: systematically immersing himself in revelry and folly. What sets his account apart from mere indulgence is the critical qualifier: his heart remained "guiding" by "wisdom." This wasn't a loss of control, but a highly disciplined, intellectual pursuit. He wasn't simply sinning; he was conducting a grand philosophical investigation to definitively discover what true "good" life offers under heaven, hoping to find a source of enduring meaning and joy within the confines of mortal existence. The subsequent verses reveal the outcome: despite wisdom's careful oversight, all these worldly pursuits ultimately proved to be "vanity" and "a striving after wind."

Practical usage:

• Reminds believers that indulging in worldly pleasures, even with perceived "control" or "wisdom," often leads to emptiness apart from God.
• Warns against the modern-day "controlled experiments" with sin or worldly experiences in hopes of finding ultimate meaning there.
• Reinforces that the ultimate good for humanity is found in God, not in earthly endeavors (Mic 6:8).