Ecclesiastes 5:18 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Preacher commends a simple, good life: to eat, drink, and find joy in one's daily work, receiving it as the portion God gives.
What Does Ecclesiastes 5:18 Mean?
After the darkness of grasping, the Preacher lifts his eyes to what he has truly seen to be good. He commends the honest enjoyment of ordinary gifts: food, drink, and satisfaction in one's labor through the days God grants.
The key word is "portion," the share God assigns to each life. These pleasures are not earned trophies to be hoarded but gifts to be received with thanks. This is the heart of the book's wisdom: contentment is found not in endless gain but in gratefully welcoming each day's good from the hand of the Giver. Every meal becomes a quiet act of trust in the God who provides.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 in the Original Language
cheleq (חֵלֶק), 'portion' -- an allotted share or inheritance, here the lot God assigns to each life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 5:18
What does Ecclesiastes 5:18 mean?
The Preacher commends a simple, good life: to eat, drink, and find joy in one's daily work, receiving it as the portion God gives.