Ecclesiastes 2:3

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses his own experimental phase, positioned between dismissing laughter as folly and launching into material construction.

The words — תַּ֣רְתִּי (Tar.ti) translates literally as "I searched," while נֹהֵ֤ג (no.Heg) means "[was] guiding."

The thread — The tension between wine and wisdom appears in Proverbs 20:1, where drink is called a mocker. The pursuit of folly and wisdom is labeled a "pursuit of the wind" in Ecclesiastes 1:17, and the urgency of the experiment is framed by the brevity noted in Genesis 47:9.

Why it lands — The text demands a practical evaluation of whether physical indulgence actually produces enduring value. It requires the reader to confront whether experimental pleasure justifies the time spent before life ends.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

תַּ֣רְתִּיTar.tiI searched בְלִבִּ֔יve./li.B/iin/ heart/ my לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְli/m.Shokhto/ gratify בַּיַּ֖יִןba/i.Ya.yinwith <the>/ wine אֶת־'et-<obj.>בְּשָׂרִ֑יbe.sa.R/iflesh/ my וְלִבִּ֞יve./li.B/iand/ heart/ my נֹהֵ֤גno.Heg[was] guiding בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ba./cha.khe.Mahwith <the>/ wisdom וְלֶאֱחֹ֣זve./le./'e.Chozand/ to/ take hold בְּסִכְל֔וּתbe./sikh.Luton/ folly עַ֣ד'aduntil אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that אֶרְאֶ֗ה'er.'EhI saw אֵי־'ei-where?זֶ֨הzehthis ט֜וֹבTov[is] good לִבְנֵ֤יli/v.Neifor/ [the] children of הָאָדָם֙ha./'a.Dam<the>/ humankind אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherwhich יַעֲשׂוּ֙ya.'a.Suthey will do תַּ֣חַתTa.chatunder הַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens מִסְפַּ֖רmis.Par[the] number of יְמֵ֥יye.Mei[the] days of חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃chai.yei./Hemlives/ their

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.
Genesis 47:9 “My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”
Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
1 Samuel 25:36 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
Job 14:14 When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
Psalms 90:9 For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh.