Ecclesiastes 2:7 kjv
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Ecclesiastes 2:7 nkjv
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
Ecclesiastes 2:7 niv
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
Ecclesiastes 2:7 esv
I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 2:7 nlt
I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me.
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 2:8 | I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings... | Continues the list of accumulated wealth. |
| Ecc 2:10-11 | Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them... Then I considered all the works... all was vanity... | The overall conclusion of Qoheleth's experiments. |
| Ecc 5:10 | He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with its income. | The futility of finding satisfaction in wealth. |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. | Contrast: True riches come from God, without grief. |
| Prov 23:5 | When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for it will sprout wings like an eagle... | The transience and impermanence of wealth. |
| Prov 28:20 | ...one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished. | Warning against the greedy pursuit of riches. |
| Dt 8:17-18 | You may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth... | God is the ultimate source of wealth. |
| Job 31:24-28 | If I have made gold my hope or declared to fine gold, 'You are my trust'... this also would be an iniquity... | Warning against idolatry of wealth. |
| Isa 55:2 | Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? | Critiques pursuits that do not satisfy. |
| Jer 17:11 | As the partridge hatches eggs it has not laid, so is he who gets riches, but not by justice... | Ill-gotten or unjust gain brings ruin. |
| Hos 12:8 | Ephraim says, 'Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself...' | Human pride and self-reliance in wealth. |
| Ps 62:10 | ...if riches increase, set not your heart on them. | Caution against trust in accumulating wealth. |
| Mt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Earthly vs. heavenly treasures. |
| Mt 13:22 | ...the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word... | The danger of wealth distracting from spiritual truth. |
| Mk 10:25 | "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." | Difficulty of the rich entering God's kingdom. |
| Lk 12:15 | "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." | Life's true essence is not material abundance. |
| Lk 12:16-21 | Parable of the rich fool who amassed wealth only to lose his life. | Illustrates the foolishness of worldly accumulation. |
| Lk 16:13 | "You cannot serve God and money." | God and money as competing masters. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil... | The dangers and temptations of pursuing riches. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | As for the rich in this present age... not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but on God... | Instructions for the rich to use wealth wisely and charitably. |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have... | Calls for contentment over desire for wealth. |
| Jas 1:11 | For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. | The fading nature of rich people and their endeavors. |
| Jas 5:1-3 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted... | Warning to the unrighteous rich, riches spoil. |
| Rev 3:17-18 | For you say, 'I am rich, have prospered, and need nothing,' not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked... | Spiritual poverty despite perceived worldly wealth. |
| 1 Jn 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. | Worldly desires and pride, which often include wealth accumulation. |
Ecclesiastes 2 verses
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 2:7 presents a facet of Qoheleth's exhaustive personal quest to find meaning and satisfaction in earthly pursuits. In this verse, he details his acquisition of vast human and animal assets—servants and immense herds and flocks—surpassing all prior rulers in Jerusalem. This pursuit of wealth and material dominion was part of his systematic investigation into whether opulence, power, and the comforts they provide could yield lasting happiness and purpose "under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Context
Ecclesiastes 2:7 is nestled within the Solomonic speaker, Qoheleth's, grand experiment in finding life's meaning outside of God. Chapter 2 details his deliberate and systematic exploration of various avenues of earthly pleasure and achievement. Starting with wine and laughter (Ecc 2:1-2), moving to great architectural projects and gardens (Ecc 2:4-6), he then delves into accumulating immense wealth through human resources (servants) and animal assets (herds and flocks), as described in this verse. His intention is to fully exhaust these "under the sun" pursuits to objectively determine if they hold any lasting value or true satisfaction for humanity. This verse specifically showcases his material and social power, emphasizing the scale of his self-initiated research project into ultimate meaning.
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Word analysis
- I acquired: (Hebrew: qanithi - קניתי from qanah - קָנָה) This verb implies possession through purchase, creation, or acquisition. Here, it denotes intentional, active effort in gaining wealth. The self-initiated nature emphasizes Qoheleth's deliberate quest. It's not passive reception but an aggressive gathering, underscoring his control and drive in this experiment.
- male and female servants: (Hebrew: avadim u-shfakhot - עבדים ושפחות) A clear indicator of great wealth, social status, and personal power in the ancient Near East. The possession of a large retinue of enslaved individuals or bondservants signifies a large household or extensive enterprise. It reflects control over labor and human resources, enabling larger projects and greater ease of life.
- and had: (implied in the construction of the following phrase) This seamlessly connects the ownership of servants with those born into his household.
- children of the house: (Hebrew: u-vnei bayit - ובני בית) Literally, "sons of my house." This refers to those born within the master's household to his existing enslaved people, further increasing his domestic and workforce population without external purchase. This detail emphasizes a self-sustaining and ever-growing domestic infrastructure, indicative of a deeply established and expansive estate.
- more than all who were before me in Jerusalem: A statement of unparalleled wealth and dominance. Qoheleth, traditionally identified with King Solomon, often uses hyperbole to emphasize the exhaustive nature of his experimentation. This phrase underscores that he spared no expense and held no resource back in his quest, pushing his acquisitions beyond all known historical precedents within his direct sphere of influence. This signifies his attempt to maximize every possible source of earthly pleasure and satisfaction.
- I also had great possessions of herds and flocks: (Hebrew: mikneh baqar va-tso’n - מקנה בקר וצאן) "Possessions" (מקנה miqneh) refers to owned property, specifically livestock. "Herds" (baqar) means cattle, and "flocks" (tso'n) refers to sheep and goats. These animals were the primary form of liquid wealth, food source, and means of trade in an agrarian society. Their immense numbers signify incredible tangible wealth, indicating self-sufficiency and the potential for vast commerce and resources.
- more than all who were before me in Jerusalem: This repetition reinforces the unparalleled scale of his accumulation. It ensures the reader understands that Qoheleth tested the very pinnacle of material prosperity, leaving no stone unturned in his search for satisfaction through possessions.
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Bonus section
Qoheleth's pursuit of such vast material wealth, including owning many servants, reflects the societal values and economic realities of his time, where these were undeniable markers of power, influence, and security. However, within the overall narrative of Ecclesiastes, the very transient and unsatisfying nature of such accumulation becomes evident. This verse subtly contributes to the "under the sun" worldview, where humanity’s attempts to find ultimate purpose and security independent of God inevitably lead to vanity. The narrative doesn't condemn the existence of wealth or servants outright, but the futility of placing ultimate hope or finding lasting joy in them. This stands as an ironic commentary on a figure (Solomon, traditionally) known for incredible God-given wealth and wisdom, yet still testing the very limits of human striving outside of divine revelation.
Ecclesiastes 2 7 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 2:7 concisely reveals a critical stage in Qoheleth's quest for purpose: the pursuit of ultimate fulfillment through unprecedented material accumulation and human dominion. By amassing servants and livestock beyond any of his predecessors in Jerusalem, he left no earthly luxury unexplored. This exhaustive effort, detailed with an almost clinical detachment, highlights the extreme measures taken to test if grand achievements and overwhelming possessions could genuinely satisfy the human longing for meaning. The verse itself offers no immediate judgment but presents the reality of his opulent endeavors. However, in light of Qoheleth's subsequent conclusion that "all was vanity and striving after wind" (Ecc 2:11), this immense wealth, like his other worldly pursuits, ultimately proved hollow and unable to deliver lasting satisfaction or ultimate purpose. It stands as a powerful illustration that true contentment is not found in "more."
Examples:
- A person relentlessly working for bigger salaries and grander houses, only to feel empty after each attainment.
- A corporate leader achieving unparalleled success, yet battling inner despair.
- A nation building the greatest empire, only for its leaders to remain restless.