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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 2:21–23

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 21

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:17–18Rank 1 from verse 21
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    17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    18¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

  2. 2 Chronicles 31:20–21Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    20¶ And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

    21And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

  3. 2 Chronicles 33:2–9Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    2But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

    3¶ For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

    4Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

    5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

    6And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

    7And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

    8Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

    9So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

  4. 2 Chronicles 34:2Rank 4 from verse 21
    Open

    2And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

  5. 2 Chronicles 35:18Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    18And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

From verse 22

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:3Rank 1 from verse 22
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    3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

  2. Psalms 127:2Rank 2 from verse 22
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    2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

  3. 1 Peter 5:7Rank 3 from verse 22
    Open

    7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

  4. 1 Timothy 6:8Rank 4 from verse 22
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    8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

  5. Ecclesiastes 3:9Rank 5 from verse 22
    Open

    9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

From verse 23

  1. Job 14:1Rank 1 from verse 23
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    1MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

  2. Job 5:7Rank 2 from verse 23
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    7Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

  3. Job 7:13–14Rank 3 from verse 23
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    13When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

    14Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

  4. Psalms 127:2Rank 4 from verse 23
    Open

    2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

  5. Psalms 6:6–7Rank 5 from verse 23
    Open

    6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

    7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 2:21

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

equity

↗

Justice, uprightness, or fairness in judgment or dealing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

therein

↗

In, within, during, or concerning that place, person, thing, condition, time, or matter previously mentioned.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

leave

↗

1. To depart, cease from, abandon, forsake, release, permit, entrust, bequeath, cause or allow to remain, omit, exclude, or not take. 2. As a noun, permission or liberty to act, including permission to depart.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

portion

↗

A part, share, allotment, inheritance, assigned duty, reward, or outcome belonging or given to someone.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vanity

↗

Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 2:22

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sun

↗

The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 2:23

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

travail

↗

Sense 1: The painful labour and anguish of childbirth. Sense 2: To undergo such labour. Sense 3: Severe toil, trouble, sorrow, or suffering.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

grief

↗

Sorrow, pain, distress, anguish, trouble, burden, injury, or the cause of such suffering in mind, body, or spirit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yea

↗

1. Indeed, marking confirmation, emphasis, addition, continuation, or heightening of what is said; it may also emphasize a question. 2. Yes, expressing an affirmative answer or declaration.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

taketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of take: receives, seizes, carries, accepts, chooses, or lays hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rest

↗

Sense 1: To cease from labour or motion, lie still, settle, remain, or rely; also repose, peace, security, or an abiding place. Sense 2: The remaining persons or things after a part is distinguished.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

night

↗

1. The dark part of the daily cycle distinguished from day, from evening until morning, or any portion of it. 2. A time or condition compared with night or darkness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vanity

↗

Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Selected passage

22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Selected passage

23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Selected passage

24There 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.

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