Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 3:13

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

13. And also that every man ] The addition of this clause confirms the interpretation just given of the “doing good” of the preceding verse. Had that meant simply enjoyment, this clause would have been an idle repetition. As it is, “doing good” takes its place, as it did with the nobler Epicureans, among the elements of happiness. So Epicurus himself taught that “it is not possible to live happily without also living wisely, and nobly, and justly” (Diog. Laert. x. 1, 140).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

That every man should eat and drink, i.e. hath power or a heart to use what God hath given him, as it is expressed, Ecc 6:2.

It is the gift of God; of which See Poole “Ecc 2:24“.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

13. Literally, “And also asto every man who eats . . . this is the gift of God” (Ecc 3:22;Ecc 5:18). When received as God’sgifts, and to God’s glory, the good things of life are enjoyed intheir due time and order (Act 2:46;1Co 10:31; 1Ti 4:3;1Ti 4:4).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And also that every man should eat and drink,…. Not to excess, but in moderation; and yet freely, plentifully, and cheerfully; and not alone, but giving the poor a portion with him; and in all having in view the glory of God, 1Co 10:31;

and enjoy the good of all his labour; take the comfort of what he has been labouring for, and not lay it up for, and leave it to, he knows not who: the Targum is,

“and see good in his days, and cause his children, at the time of his death, to inherit all his labour;”

it [is] the gift of God; not only to have, but to enjoy, and make a proper use of the mercies of life. This is the same doctrine which is delivered Ec 2:24.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

“But also that he should eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, is for every man a gift of God.” The inverted and yet anacoluthistic formation of the sentence is quite like that at Ecc 5:18. signifies, properly, the totality of men = all men, e.g., Psa 116:11; but here and at 5:18; 12:13, the author uses the two words so that the determ. second member of the st. constr. does not determine the first (which elsewhere sometimes occurs, as bethulath Israel , a virgin of Israel, Deu 22:19): every one of men (cf. ). The subst. clause col – haadam is subject: every one of men, in this that he eats … is dependent on God. Instead of the word (abbrev. from ) is here used, as at Ecc 5:18. The connection by vegam is related to the preceding adversat.: and (= but) also (= notwithstanding that), as at Ecc 6:7, Neh 5:8, cf. Jer 3:10, where gam is strengthened by becol – zoth . As for the rest, it follows from Ecc 3:13, in connection with Ecc 2:24-26, that for Koheleth and reciprocally condition each other, without, however, a conclusion following therefrom justifying the translation “to do good,” Ecc 3:12. Men’s being conditioned in the enjoyment of life, and, generally, their being conditioned by God the Absolute, has certainly an ethical end in view, as is expressed in the conclusion which Koheleth now reaches: –

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(13, 14) Sir. 11:17; Sir. 18:6.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

13. Eat and drink Nearly a repetition of the previous verse. Every form of present enjoyment is from the hand of God.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ecc 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.

Ver. 13. And enjoy the good of all his labour. ] “They that will not labour must not eat,” 2Th 3:10 saith the apostle. As they that do shall enjoy the good of all their labour, eat the labour of their hands, and be thrice happy. Psa 128:1-2 Jabal and Jubal, Gen 4:20-21 frugality and music, good husbandry and good content, dwell together; and yet not always, but where God gives the gift. He gives strength to labour, and health to enjoy the good of our labour. a This the rich fool in the gospel either knew not or considered not. “Eat, drink, and be merry,” said he to himself; but God was not in all his thoughts. How much better David! “Hope in the Lord,” Psa 43:5 saith he to himself and others, “and be doing good; dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psa 37:3

a Valeat possessor oportet, si comportatis rebus bene cogitat uti. – Horat.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)