Ecclesiastes 3:13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. Solomon, who commanded 30,000 laborers and lived in unprecedented luxury, declares that the simplest pleasures — food, drink, satisfaction in work — are God's gifts.
The emotion here: grateful amazement at discovering joy in ordinary things
The original word
mattanah (מַתָּנָה) — gift, something freely given without earning or deserving
Why it matters
Solomon's daily provision included 30 oxen, 100 sheep, and countless other delicacies
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 3:13
Solomon isn't promoting materialism — he's saying even basic sustenance and work satisfaction are undeserved gifts
Common misconceptionPeople see this as permission for materialism, but Solomon calls these basic needs 'gifts' — the point is gratitude for ordinary sustenance, not accumulating wealth.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 3:13
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 3:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 3:13 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is joyful. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include gratitude, divine gifts, enjoyment, work. Notable phrases: eat and drink and enjoy; gift of God.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 3:13 mean to you, today?
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