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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Verse 18. Behold that which I have seen] This is the result of my observations and experience. God gives every man, in the course of his providence, the necessaries of life; and it is his will that he should thankfully use them.

For it is his portion.] What is requisite for him in the lower world; without them his life cannot subsist, and earthly blessings are as truly the portion of his body and animal life, as the salvation of God is the portion of his soul.

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See also Ecclesiastes 5:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Rather, Behold what I have seen to be good, it is pleasant for a man to eat. Such thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:18....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. EXHORTATIONS ON DIFFERENT VANITIES CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Concerning worship and vows (Ecclesiastes 5:1)_ 2. Concerning extortions (Ecclesiastes 5:8) 3. The vanities of wealth (Eccle

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCERNING DESPOTISM AND WEALTH. Ecclesiastes 5:8 f. The oppression and injustice that one sees (_in_ an Oriental satrapy) are not to be wondered at when we remember the graded hierarchy of officials...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    COMELY. well....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Behold that which I have seen_ The thinker returns to the maxim of a calm regulated Epicureanism, as before in chs. Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:22. If a man has little, let him be content with...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BEHOLD THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN, &C.— _Behold that which I have observed to be good; that which I have observed to be proper,_ &c....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    c. Exhortation to enjoy the riches God permits Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 TEXT 5:18-20 18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which h...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him:...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    5:18 enjoy (b-18) Lit 'see,' as ch. 2.1....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DISHEARTENING OUTLOOK ON LIFE 1-8. Disorders in the religious, in the political world. In the earlier part of this chapter the writer turns from secular to religious matters. H e points out the irrev...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 5 BE AFRAID TO MAKE GOD ANGRY – ECCLESIASTES 5:1-7 V1 Be careful when you go to God...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    The Preacher is led back to the conclusion at which he had arrived (Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22)....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Ecclesiastes 5:17]_ הִנֵּ֞ה אֲשֶׁר ־רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֗נִי טֹ֣וב

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    SECOND SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Devotion To The Affairs Of Business Ecclesiastes 3:1 - Ecclesiastes 5:20 I. IF the true Good is not to be found in the School where Wisdom utters her vo...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE CONCLUSION. Ecclesiastes 5:18 For himself Coheleth has a very decided opinion on this point. He is quite sure that his first conclusion is sound, though for a moment he had questioned its soundne...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The observation of the religious life brings no truer satisfaction. In this brief passage contempt for religion is not expressed, but there is absolutely no joy or satisfaction manifest. The life is w...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and proper [for one] to (o) eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giv...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BEHOLD THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN,.... Observed, considered and approved of, and which he recommended and excited attention to, and is as follows; [IT IS] GOOD AND COMELY [FOR ONE] TO EAT AND TO DRINK; t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Behold that which I have seen_ That is, learned by study and experience; _it is good and comely Good_, or comfortable to a man's self, and _comely_, or amiable in the eyes of other men, as penuriousn...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Behold that which I have seen, the conclusion which he reaches also in this chapter: IT IS GOOD AND COMELY FOR ONE TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND TO ENJOY THE GOOD OF ALL HIS LABOR THAT HE TAKETH UNDER THE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ABSTAINING FROM VICES AND FOSTERING VIRTUES...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    IT IS GOOD AND COMELY: _ Heb._ there is a good which is comely, etc. ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE: _ Heb._ the number of the days [SYMBOL MISSING IN 1611 EDITION]: Or, though he give not much, yet he...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "HERE IS WHAT. HAVE SEEN TO BE GOOD AND FITTING: TO EAT, TO DRINK AND ENJOY ONESELF IN ALL ONE'S LABOR IN WHICH HE TOILS UNDER THE SUN DURING THE FEW YEARS OF HIS LIFE WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN HIM; FOR THI...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-20 Life is God's gift. We must not view our calling as a drudgery, but take pleasure in the calling where God puts us. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes employments easy, and afflict...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN, i.e. learned by study and experience. GOOD AND COMELY; good or comfortable to man's self, and comely or amiable in the eyes of other men, as penuriousness is base and dishonour...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 5:18 seen H7200 (H8804) good H2896 fitting H3303 eat H398 (H8800) drink H8354 (H8800) enjoy...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    BETTER THAN SEEKING RICHES IS TO SEEK TO ENJOY WALKING WITH GOD (ECCLESIASTES 5:18). Once again he falls back on his idea of a godly man. Here is the one who does find blessing from God. We should not...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 3:1 A profound gloom rests on the second act or section of this drama. It teaches us that we are helpless in the iron grip of laws which we had no voice in making; that we often lie at th...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 5:8-7 I. We left Koheleth in the act of exhorting us to fear God. The fear of God, of course, implies a belief in the Divine superintendence of human affairs. This belief Koheleth now pro...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 5:9 ; ECCLESIASTES 6:1 I. In all grades of society human subsistence is very much the same. Even princes are not fed with ambrosia, nor do poets subsist on asphodel. The profit of the ea...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warnings against a vain religion. The vanity and vexation attending the possession of wealth. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: We should address ourselves to the worship of God with a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 5:1. _Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God._ Avoid wandering thoughts, and be wholly absorbed in devotion. Do not hear the words of prayer only, but desire the blessings soug...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour._ LABOUR It is concerning Labour in its broadest sense that I wish to speak. The navvy with his shovel, the...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 5:8 Life “Under the Sun.” The Preacher observes the hardships of life in a fallen world. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 5:20. HE SHALL NOT MUCH REMEMBER THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE] An even joy is diffused through them—they pass smoothly and pleasantly along. _Answereth him in the joy of his hea...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 5:1 Section 6. Man's outward and secular life being unable to secure happiness and satisfaction, can these be found in _popular religion?_ Religious exercises need the observa...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they do not consider the evil that they do (Ecclesiastes 5:1). When you go into the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 6:17; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Ecclesiastes 2:10; Ecclesiastes 2:24;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Good — Good or comfortable to a man's self, and comely or amiable in the eye of other men. His portion — Of worldly goods; he hath a better portion in heaven. This liberty is given him by God, and thi...

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