Ecclesiastes 2:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Preacher denied himself no desire and took pleasure in his work, calling that pleasure his only reward.
What Does Ecclesiastes 2:10 Mean?
Here the experiment is complete: whatever his eyes wanted, he took; whatever joy his heart sought, he allowed. He found real gladness in the labor itself, and he names that gladness his portion, the wage his toil actually paid out.
The word portion is honest and important. There was a true, if passing, reward in the doing and the delight. The Preacher is not a cynic who denies that work brings pleasure. Yet a portion received in the moment is not the same as lasting profit. The verse holds both truths: enjoy the good of your labor as God permits, but do not mistake the wage for the everlasting inheritance.
Ecclesiastes 2:10 in the Original Language
cheleq (חֵלֶק), 'portion' -- one's allotted share or lot, the part assigned to a person in life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 2:10
What does Ecclesiastes 2:10 mean?
The Preacher denied himself no desire and took pleasure in his work, calling that pleasure his only reward.