Ecclesiastes 2 · Verse 25

Ecclesiastes 2:25

For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
Ecclesiastes 2:25, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 2:25 in other translations

BSBFor apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
WEBFor who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
ASVFor who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
YLTFor who eateth and who hasteth out more than I?
DARBYFor who can eat, or who be eager, more than I?
BBEWho may take food or have pleasure without him?
WebsterFor who can eat, or who else can hasten to it more than I?

What does Ecclesiastes 2:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
25. hasten--after indulgences (Pr 7:23; 19:2), eagerly pursue such enjoyments. None can compete with me in this. If I, then, with all my opportunities of enjoyment, failed utterly to obtain solid pleasure of my own making, apart from God, who else can? God mercifully spares His children the sad experiment which Solomon made, by denying them the goods which they often desire. He gives them the fruits of Solomon's experience, without their paying the dear price at which Solomon bought it.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 →

Ecclesiastes 2:25 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.

כִּ֣יkiforH3588
מִ֥יmiwho?H4310
יֹאכַ֛לyo.Khalwill he eatH398
וּמִ֥יu.Miand who?H4310
יָח֖וּשׁya.Chushwill he enjoyH2363
ח֥וּץchutzoutsideH2351
מִמֶּֽנִּי\׃mi.Me.nifrom meH4480

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 2:25

  • Ecclesiastes 2:1-12

    I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 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. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
who can.
1-12; 1Ki 4:21-24

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

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:24

    There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:25

    For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque ¿quién comerá, y quién se cuidará, mejor que yo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car qui peut manger, et qui peut jouir plus que moi?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wer kann essen und wer kann genießen ohne ihn
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis ita devorabit et deliciis affluet ut ego?