Ecclesiastes 11 · Verse 7

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Ecclesiastes 11:7, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 11:7 in other translations

BSBLight is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
WEBTruly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
ASVTruly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
YLTSweet also is the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.
DARBYNow the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun;
BBETruly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
WebsterTruly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

What does Ecclesiastes 11:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. light--of life (Ec 7:11; Psa 49:19). Life is enjoyable, especially to the godly.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Truly the light is sweet - Life is dear to every man as the light of the sun is to the eye. A man would give all that he has for his life, and it is particularly dear to him when he is in ease and affluence: but let each remember that,

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give loose to every appetite, and rush into every vicious pleasure! But God registers every one of their sinful thoughts and desires, their idle words and wicked words. If they would avoid remorse and terror, if they would have hope and comfort on a dying bed, if they would escape misery here and hereafter, let them remember the vanity of youthful pleasures. That Solomon means to condemn the pleasures of sin is evident. His object is to draw the young to purer and more lasting joys. This is not the language of one grudging youthful pleasures, because he can no longer partake of them; but of one who has, by a miracle of mercy, been brought back in safety. He would persuade the young from trying a course whence so few return. If the young would live a life of true happiness, if they would secure happiness hereafter, let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 11:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּמָת֖וֹקu.ma.Tokand [is] sweetH4966
הָא֑וֹרha.'Orthe lightH216
וְט֥וֹבve.Tovand [is] goodH2896
לַֽעֵינַ֖יִםla.'ei.Na.yimfor the eyesH5869
לִרְא֥וֹתlir.'otto seeH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ\׃ha.Sha.meshthe sunH8121

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 11:7

  • Ecclesiastes 7:11

    Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

  • Matthew 5:45

    That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

  • Proverbs 15:30

    The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

  • Psalms 84:11

    For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

  • Job 33:30

    To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

  • Proverbs 29:13

    The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.

  • Job 33:28

    He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

  • Psalms 56:13

    For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

  • Ecclesiastes 6:5

    Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the light.
Job 33:28,30; Ps 56:13; Pr 15:30; 29:13
a pleasant.
7:11; Ps 84:11; Mt 5:45

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 11:6

    In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:7

    Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

  • Ecclesiastes 11:8

    But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Suave ciertamente es la luz, y agradable á los ojos ver el sol:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La lumière est douce, et il est agréable pour les yeux de voir le soleil;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und süß ist das Licht, und wohltuend den Augen, die Sonne zu sehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.