Ecclesiastes 3 · Verse 13

Ecclesiastes 3:13

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:13, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 3:13 in other translations

BSBand also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
WEBAlso that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
ASVAnd also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
YLTyea, even every man who eateth and hath drunk and seen good by all his labour, it is a gift of God.
DARBYyea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift of God.
BBEAnd for every man to take food and drink, and have joy in all his work, is a reward from God.
WebsterAnd also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.

What does Ecclesiastes 3:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Literally, "And also as to every man who eats ... this is the gift of God" (Ec 3:22; 5:18). When received as God's gifts, and to God's glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order (Ac 2:46; 1Co 10:31; 1Ti 4:3, 4).

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 →

Ecclesiastes 3:13 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.

וְגַ֤םve.Gamand alsoH1571
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
הָאָדָם֙ha.'a.Dam<the> personH120
שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.Khalthat he will eatH398
וְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.Tahand he will drinkH8354
וְרָאָ֥הve.ra.'Ahand he will seeH7200
ט֖וֹבTovgoodH2896
בְּכָל\־be.kholin allH3605
עֲמָל֑וֹa.ma.Lotoil hisH5999
מַתַּ֥תma.Tat[is] a gift ofH4991
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
הִֽיא\׃Hi'itH1931

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 3:13

  • Ecclesiastes 9:7

    Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 65:21-23

    And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

  • Psalms 128:2

    For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

    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: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

  • Deuteronomy 28:30-31

    Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:24; 5:18-20; 6:2; 9:7; De 28:30,31,47,48; Jud 6:3-6; Ps 128:2
Isa 65:21-23

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

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 3:12

    I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:13

    And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:14

    I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y también que es don de Dios que todo hombre coma y beba, y goce el bien de toda su labor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et aussi que tout homme mange et boive, et qu’il jouisse du bien-être dans tout son travail: cela, c’est un don de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und auch, daß er esse und trinke und Gutes sehe bei all seiner Mühe, ist für jeden Menschen eine Gabe Gottes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		omnis enim homo qui comedit et bibit, et videt bonum de labore suo, hoc donum Dei est.