Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Teacher addresses readers in Ecclesiastes at a pivot point, immediately after noting the injustice of earthly retribution and before describing the exhausting pursuit of wisdom.

The words — The Hebrew verb שִׁבַּחְתִּי (shi.bach.ti) translates literally as "I commend," while the noun שִׂמְחָה (sim.chah) denotes "gladness" or "enjoyment."

The thread — This insistence on finding satisfaction in eating, drinking, and labor runs through Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 3:12, and Ecclesiastes 5:18.

Why it lands — The text directs the reader to accept daily sustenance and joy as the only guaranteed portion during the limited time God grants, rather than demanding certainty in an unpredictable world.

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

וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽיve./shi.Bach.tiand/ I commend אֲנִי֙'a.NiI אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַשִּׂמְחָ֔הha./sim.Chah<the>/ gladness אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherthat אֵֽין־'ein-not ט֤וֹבTovgood לָֽאָדָם֙la./'a.Dam[belongs] to <the>/ humankind תַּ֣חַתTa.chatunder הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha./She.meshthe/ sun כִּ֛יkithat אִם־'im-except לֶאֱכ֥וֹלle./'e.Kholto/ eat וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתve./li/sh.Totand/ to/ drink וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַve./li/s.Mo.achand/ to/ be happy וְה֞וּאve./Hu'and/ that יִלְוֶ֣נּוּyil.Ve./nuit will accompany/ him בַעֲמָל֗וֹva./'a.ma.L/oin/ toil/ his יְמֵ֥יye.Mei[the] days of חַיָּ֛יוchai.Ya/vlife/ his אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which נָֽתַן־na.tan-he has givenל֥וֹl/oto <the>/ himהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God תַּ֥חַתTa.chatunder הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha./Sha.meshthe/ sun

King James Version

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
Ecclesiastes 3:22 I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
1 Timothy 4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.