Ecclesiastes 2:2
Ecclesiastes 2:2 in Multiple Translations
I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy — What use is it?
I conclude that laughing your way through life is stupid, and pleasure—what use is that?
I saide of laughter, Thou art mad: and of ioy, What is this that thou doest?
Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What [is] this it is doing?'
I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?
So I said to myself, “It is foolish to laugh all the time, and continually doing what I enjoy does not seem to bring any lasting benefit.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 2:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לִ/שְׂח֖וֹק
אָמַ֣רְתִּי
מְהוֹלָ֑ל
וּ/לְ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה
מַה
זֹּ֥ה
עֹשָֽׂה
לִ/שְׂח֖וֹק
sᵉchôwq
H7814
laughter
Prep | N-ms
אָמַ֣רְתִּי
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
מְהוֹלָ֑ל
hâlal
H1984
to shine
V-M-Inf-c
וּ/לְ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה
simchâh
H8057
joy
Conj | Prep | N-fs
מַה
mâh
H4100
what?
Part
זֹּ֥ה
zôh
H2090
this
Pron
עֹשָֽׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 2:2
לִ/שְׂח֖וֹק
sᵉchôwq
H7814
"laughter"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word for laughter can also mean mockery or scorn, as seen in Genesis when Ishmael laughed at Isaac. It can be joyful or hollow, and is often used to describe the ridicule of others. In Psalms, it is used to describe God's laughter at the wicked.
Definition: 1) laughter, laughing stock, mocking, derision 1a) laughter 1a1) joyful 1a2) hollow 1b) derision (of object) 1c) sport
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: derision, laughter(-ed to scorn, -ing), mocked, sport. See also: Job 8:21; Ecclesiastes 7:6; Psalms 126:2.
אָמַ֣רְתִּי
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
מְהוֹלָ֑ל
hâlal
H1984
"to shine"
V-M-Inf-c
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
וּ/לְ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה
simchâh
H8057
"joy"
Conj | Prep | N-fs
This Hebrew word means joy or gladness, often used to describe a happy occasion or celebration, like a festival. It's used in the Bible to express God's joy and pleasure. In the KJV, it's translated as joy, gladness, or mirth.
Definition: 1) joy, mirth, gladness 1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure 1b) joy (of God) 1c) glad result, happy issue
Usage: Occurs in 89 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing). See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 106:5; Psalms 4:8.
מַה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
זֹּ֥ה
zôh
H2090
"this"
Pron
This Hebrew word means this or that, used to point out something specific. It is often translated as it, this, or that in the Bible.
Definition: this
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: as well as another, it, this, that, thus and thus. See also: Judges 18:4; Ecclesiastes 2:24; Psalms 132:12.
עֹשָֽׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 2:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 2:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:2
Context — The Futility of Pleasure
1I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
3I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. 4I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 14:13 | Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 7:2–6 | It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. |
| 3 | 1 Peter 4:2–4 | Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. |
| 4 | Isaiah 22:12–13 | On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth. But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” |
| 5 | Amos 6:3–6 | You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph. |
Ecclesiastes 2:2 Summary
The writer of Ecclesiastes is saying that when we make laughter and pleasure the most important things in our lives, they don't really give us the fulfillment we're looking for. He's asking if all the fun and enjoyable things we do really accomplish anything meaningful or lasting, as also seen in Ecclesiastes 3:11. This is a good reminder for us to look to God and His Word for true purpose and meaning in life, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33. By doing so, we can find a sense of fulfillment and joy that goes beyond just earthly pleasures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the writer mean by 'folly' in Ecclesiastes 2:2?
The writer means that laughter and pleasure are empty and lacking in true meaning or purpose, as also seen in Ecclesiastes 7:6 where it says that 'the laughter of the fool' is like 'the crackling of thorns under a pot' - fleeting and without substance.
Is the writer saying that we should never laugh or enjoy pleasure?
No, the writer is not saying that, but rather that when we make these things the ultimate goal of our lives, they prove to be unfulfilling, as Solomon also discovered in Ecclesiastes 2:1 and as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33 to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness.
What is the significance of the writer asking 'What does it accomplish?' about pleasure?
This question highlights the writer's search for meaning and purpose in life, recognizing that earthly pleasures, while enjoyable, do not provide lasting fulfillment or accomplishment, as also noted in Ecclesiastes 3:11 and 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Ecclesiastes?
This verse is part of the writer's larger exploration of the nature of life and the search for meaning, which is a central theme throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, as seen in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I pursue 'laughter' and 'pleasure' in my life, and are these pursuits truly fulfilling to me?
- In what ways do I seek to find meaning and purpose in life, and are these searches aligned with God's desires for me as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28?
- How can I, like the writer, examine my own life and priorities to discern what is truly worthwhile and what is 'folly'?
- What role does gratitude and contentment play in my life, and how can I cultivate these attitudes as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:11-12?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter, [it is] mad,.... The risible faculty in man is given him for some usefulness; and when used in a moderate way, and kept within due bounds, is of service to him, and conduces to
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? Laughter - flowing from sensual gratifications. (It is) (rather, Thou art). Hengstenberg translates (limshok besari), 'to cherish.' Mad - i:e., when made the chief good.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter; of excessive mirth, which discovers itself by immoderate laughter, and other outward gestures. It is mad; this is an act and sign of madness, more fit for fools, who know nothing, than for wise men, at least in this sin fill, and dangerous, and deplorable state of mankind, which calls for seriousness and sorrow from all considerate persons, in which case it is like the laughter of one in a frenzy; and none but a fool or madman can take satisfaction in such light and frothy pleasures, or expect happiness from them. What doeth it? What good doeth it? or how can it make men happy? I challenge all the epicures in the world to give me a solid and satisfactory answer.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?Ver. 2. I said of mirth, It is mad,] q.d., Thou mad fool, what dost thou? Yet is not mirth amiss, so it be moderate; nor laughter unlawful - as some Anabaptists in Calvin’ s time held - so that it be well limited. Carnal mirth, and abuse of lawful things, doth mightily weaken, intenerate, and emasculate the spirit; yea, it draws out the very vigour and vivacity of it, and is therefore to be avoided. Some are so afraid of sadness that they banish all seriousness; they affect mirth as the eel doth mud, or the toad ditches. These are those that dance to the timbrel and harp, but suddenly turn into hell.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
(2) Proverbs 14:13. Mad.—Psalms 102:9.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
Verse 2. I said of laughter, It is mad] Literally "To laughter I said, O mad one! and to mirth, What is this one doing?" Solomon does not speak here of a sober enjoyment of the things of this world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia as two persons; and the contemptuous manner wherewith he treats them has something remarkably striking. He tells the former to her face that she is mad; but as to the latter, he thinks her so much beneath his notice, that he only points at her, and instantly turns his back.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:2
2. I said of laughter, It is mad] The choice of a word cognate with the madness of chap. Ecclesiastes 1:17, gives a special emphasis to the judgment which the man thus passes on himself. There was as much insanity in this form of life as in the other. He was plunging into madness with his eyes open and might say, “Video meliora proboque,Deteriora sequor.”“I see the better, yet the worse pursue.”Ovid, Metamorph. vii. 20. In each case the question might be asked “What does it work? What is its outcome?” And the implied answer is “Absolutely nothing.”
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2
2. I said of laughter — More literally, To mirth I said, Thou art mad, (foolish,) and to pleasure, what doth she accomplish, or amount to?
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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16 Vital Facets of the Word of God by Keith Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the vital facets of the Bible, highlighting its role as the source of salvation, the evidence of true faith, the moral compass, and the means of spiritual gr |
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The Assembly Incomplete Message by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of going back to the simplicity of the message of the Gospel while being open to changing methods. He uses the example of cere |
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Seeing Our Imperfections by William MacDonald | William MacDonald emphasizes the reality of human imperfections, noting that even in moments of joy, sorrow is present. He points out that while we aspire for perfection, it is ess |
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Happiness by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes that true happiness is found in a relationship with God, as expressed in Psalm 144:15. He recounts a confrontation between an atheist and an old woman who chal |
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Christian Recreation and Unchristian Amusement by T.L. Cuyler | T. L. Cuyler preaches about the importance of Christian recreation and the dangers of unchristian amusement, emphasizing the need for activities that strengthen the body, bring hap |
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Bakht Singh Funeral - Part 7 by Bakht Singh | This sermon reflects on the somber moment of a funeral procession arriving at the cemetery, highlighting the reality of death and the brevity of life. It emphasizes the importance |
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Joshua Miktarian Funeral - Part 2 by Jason Robinson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of reflecting on the state of our souls and the need to prioritize our relationship with God. It addresses the societal shift away from acknow |