Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Solomon (or the Qoheleth figure) wrote Ecclesiastes around 935 BC, reflecting on life's meaning through the lens of vast experience and wisdom. The book addresses the futility of life 'under the sun' (without God's perspective), but punctuates this with calls to enjoy God's gifts. This verse comes after discussing death, time, and divine sovereignty. In ancient Israel, bread and wine were staple elements representing sustenance and celebration. Wine was not forbidden but rather seen as a gift from God that 'maketh glad the heart of man' (Psalm 104:15). The call to eat and drink with joy countered both ascetic tendencies that rejected pleasure and hedonistic excess that made pleasure an idol. The phrase 'God now accepteth thy works' reflects the covenant relationship where obedience leads to blessing and divine approval. This balanced view of pleasure within God's will was countercultural in a world that often swung between extreme asceticism and unbridled indulgence.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse balance enjoying life's pleasures with spiritual devotion?
- What does it mean that God 'now accepteth thy works' in relation to enjoying His gifts?
- How can we distinguish between legitimate enjoyment and sinful indulgence?
- Why would Solomon emphasize joy in eating and drinking after discussing life's vanity?
- What role does divine acceptance play in our freedom to enjoy God's material blessings?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse offers a striking affirmation of enjoying life's simple pleasures. The imperative 'Go thy way' (lek) is a command to action and purpose. The paired commands 'eat thy bread with joy' (ekhol besimchah lachmeka) and 'drink thy wine with a merry heart' (usheteh vleyv-tov yeneka) emphasize wholehearted enjoyment of basic provisions. The Hebrew simchah (joy) and leyv-tov (good/merry heart) indicate genuine gladness, not mere physical satisfaction. The phrase 'with a merry heart' literally means 'with a good heart,' suggesting inner contentment and peace. The crucial justification follows: 'for God now accepteth thy works' (ki khevar ratsah ha'Elohim et-ma'asekha). The word khevar means 'already' or 'long ago'—God has already accepted your works. This isn't earning divine favor through merit, but recognizing that God's prior acceptance frees us to enjoy His gifts without guilt. The verse teaches that legitimate pleasure in God's provisions is appropriate when we walk in His ways, as our works have already found divine acceptance.