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Ecclesiastes 2 Bible study: From the hand of God
The Preacher's "no profit under the sun" (2:11) answers the book's first question in its own Hebrew words (1:3). Two verses later the same word, yitron, says wisdom excels folly (2:13). And the chapter doesn't name God until its turn: "This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God" (2:24).
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“There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“In Ecclesiastes 2, the Preacher says that wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness.”
Is that in Ecclesiastes 2, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
The test
The chapter opens with the Preacher speaking to himself: "I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity" (2:1) (tap mirth, vanity). He says what he wanted to find out: "until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives" (2:3). And he says he did it with wisdom: "my heart yet guiding me with wisdom" (2:3) (tap wisdom). Then come the works, one after another: "I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards" (2:4), gardens and parks (2:5), pools of water (2:6), servants, herds and flocks (2:7), "I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces" (2:8) (tap treasure), and singers (2:8). "So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me" (2:9). "Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them" (2:10), and he found a portion in it: "for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor" (2:10) (tap portion). These notes add nothing about these works from outside the Bible.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Ecclesiastes 2
- "So I hated life" (2:17). Is the Preacher saying he wants to die?
- The Preacher calls pleasure vanity (2:1), then says there is nothing better than to eat and drink (2:24). Which does he mean?
- "that he may give to him who pleases God" (2:26). Is it a promise that what the sinner gathers will go to those who please God?
That was a taste
The rest of Ecclesiastes 2 is waiting in Favor
- The first question, answered
- Wisdom excels, and one event
- Left to another, and from the hand of God
- Heard in the Psalms
- 15 questions as you read
- 13 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Ecclesiastes 2 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
חֵלֶקcheleqsay KHE-lek
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "portion, share". Strong's: "an allotment". The chapter has it twice, and it changes hands. First it is the Preacher's own: "for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor" (2:10). Then it is what a man who labored must hand on: "yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it" (2:21). Ecclesiastes has it eight times, and the WEB gives it as portion every time. It comes again with the Preacher's nothing better: "for that is his portion" (3:22), and "for this is his portion" (5:18).
For your group
Ecclesiastes 2 Bible study questions
- 1"Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked … and there was no profit under the sun" (2:11). When has something you hoped would satisfy you left you still wanting?
- 2"wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness" (2:13), and yet "the wise man must die just like the fool!" (2:16). How do you hold both of those together?
- 3"This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God" (2:24). What would change this week if you received your ordinary meals and days as from the hand of God?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Ecclesiastes 2 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home