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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 2:4 I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/21_Ecc_02_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 2:4 - The Futility of Pleasure" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/">Ecclesiastes</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-3.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 2:3">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 2:4 <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 2:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />I made my works great: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I did some great things. I built houses and planted vineyards. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I accomplished some great things: I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I accomplished great things. I built myself houses and planted vineyards. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />With respect to my extravagant works, I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />I made great my works, I built for myself houses, I planted for myself vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />I magnified my work; I builded to me houses; I planted to me vineyards:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />I magnified my works. I built houses for myself, and I planted vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I multiplied my servants; I built myself houses; I planted vineyards for myself:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I multiplied Servants for myself, I built houses for myself , I planted for myself vineyards<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=197" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/2.htm">The Futility of Pleasure</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>I 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. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1431.htm" title="1431: hiḡ·dal·tî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- To grow up, become great. A primitive root; properly, to twist, i.e. To be large.">I expanded</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śāy (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">my pursuits.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: bā·nî·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">I built</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bāt·tîm (N-mp) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">houses</a> <a href="/hebrew/5193.htm" title="5193: nā·ṭa‘·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To plant. A primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. Fix; specifically, to plant.">and planted</a> <a href="/hebrew/3754.htm" title="3754: kə·rā·mîm (N-mp) -- A vineyard. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard.">vineyards</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">for myself.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/7-1.htm">1 Kings 7:1-12</a></span><br />Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace. / He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams. / The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">1 Kings 9:15-19</a></span><br />This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. / Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. / So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-1.htm">2 Chronicles 8:1-6</a></span><br />Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own palace, / Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him and settled Israelites there. / Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/2-8.htm">Nehemiah 2:8</a></span><br />And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/127-1.htm">Psalm 127:1</a></span><br />A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-8.htm">Isaiah 5:8-10</a></span><br />Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land. / I heard the LORD of Hosts declare: “Surely many houses will become desolate, great mansions left unoccupied. / For ten acres of vineyard will yield but a bath of wine, and a homer of seed only an ephah of grain.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/22-14.htm">Jeremiah 22:14</a></span><br />who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/haggai/1-4.htm">Haggai 1:4-9</a></span><br />“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” / Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. / You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-16.htm">Luke 12:16-21</a></span><br />Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ / Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-21</a></span><br />Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/16-26.htm">Matthew 16:26</a></span><br />What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/8-36.htm">Mark 8:36</a></span><br />What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-25.htm">Luke 9:25</a></span><br />What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-19.htm">Luke 16:19-31</a></span><br />Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a></span><br />Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:</p><p class="hdg">made</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Genesis 11:4</a></b></br> And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top <i>may reach</i> unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/18-18.htm">2 Samuel 18:18</a></b></br> Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which <i>is</i> in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/4-30.htm">Daniel 4:30</a></b></br> The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?</p><p class="hdg">I builded</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/8-12.htm">Deuteronomy 8:12-14</a></b></br> Lest <i>when</i> thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt <i>therein</i>; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/7-1.htm">1 Kings 7:1,2,8-12</a></b></br> But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/9-1.htm">1 Kings 9:1</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,</p><p class="hdg">i planted</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm">1 Chronicles 27:27</a></b></br> And over the vineyards <i>was</i> Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars <i>was</i> Zabdi the Shiphmite:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/26-10.htm">2 Chronicles 26:10</a></b></br> Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen <i>also</i>, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/1-14.htm">Song of Solomon 1:14</a></b></br> My beloved <i>is</i> unto me <i>as</i> a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/24-3.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-3.htm">Building</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-27.htm">Built</a> <a href="/psalms/25-17.htm">Enlarged</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-16.htm">Great</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-28.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-16.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-16.htm">Planting</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-23.htm">Projects</a> <a href="/esther/9-23.htm">Undertook</a> <a href="/psalms/107-37.htm">Vine-Gardens</a> <a href="/psalms/107-37.htm">Vineyards</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-14.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/songs/4-4.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/3-3.htm">Building</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-14.htm">Built</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-14.htm">Enlarged</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-7.htm">Great</a> <a href="/songs/1-17.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm">Planting</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-1.htm">Projects</a> <a href="/luke/22-5.htm">Undertook</a> <a href="/songs/1-14.htm">Vine-Gardens</a> <a href="/songs/1-6.htm">Vineyards</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-11.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-1.htm">the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-12.htm">Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-18.htm">The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-24.htm">Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I expanded my pursuits.</b><br>This phrase reflects the Preacher's (traditionally understood as Solomon) exploration of various endeavors to find meaning and satisfaction in life. In the context of Ecclesiastes, this pursuit is part of a broader experiment to determine what brings true fulfillment. Solomon, known for his wisdom and wealth, had the resources to explore every possible avenue of human achievement and pleasure. This pursuit can be seen as a reflection of human nature's tendency to seek purpose through accomplishments and material success. Theologically, it underscores the futility of seeking ultimate satisfaction in earthly endeavors, echoing the theme of vanity that permeates the book.<p><b>I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.</b><br>Solomon's building projects are well-documented in the Bible, including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and his own palace (1 Kings 6-7). These grand projects symbolize human achievement and the desire for legacy. The mention of vineyards indicates agricultural prosperity and wealth, as vineyards were a sign of blessing and abundance in ancient Israel (<a href="/deuteronomy/8-7.htm">Deuteronomy 8:7-8</a>). Culturally, vineyards were significant in the ancient Near East, often associated with joy and celebration (<a href="/psalms/104-15.htm">Psalm 104:15</a>). This phrase also highlights the personal nature of these endeavors—"for myself"—emphasizing the self-centered pursuit of pleasure and accomplishment. In a broader biblical context, this can be contrasted with the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth (<a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-21</a>). Solomon's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the limitations of earthly achievements in providing lasting fulfillment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The central place of Solomon's reign and the location of many of his building projects, including the Temple and his palaces.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/v/vineyards.htm">Vineyards</a></b><br>Symbolic of prosperity and abundance in ancient Israel, vineyards were a significant part of the agrarian economy and a sign of wealth.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_pursuit_of_earthly_accomplishments.htm">The Pursuit of Earthly Accomplishments</a></b><br>Solomon's extensive building projects reflect a human tendency to seek fulfillment in achievements. However, he later recognizes their ultimate futility without God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_temporary_nature_of_material_wealth.htm">The Temporary Nature of Material Wealth</a></b><br>While building houses and planting vineyards are not inherently wrong, they are temporary and cannot provide lasting satisfaction or meaning.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_in_prioritizing_spiritual_over_material.htm">Wisdom in Prioritizing Spiritual Over Material</a></b><br>Solomon's experience teaches us to prioritize spiritual growth and eternal values over material success.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_god's_provision.htm">Contentment in God's Provision</a></b><br>True contentment comes from recognizing God's provision and purpose in our lives, rather than in the accumulation of wealth or accomplishments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_on_personal_ambitions.htm">Reflecting on Personal Ambitions</a></b><br>This passage encourages believers to reflect on their own ambitions and to align them with God's will and purpose.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_ecclesiastes_2_4-6_projects.htm">In Ecclesiastes 2:4–6, where is the archaeological or historical evidence for the massive building projects claimed? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_success_worth_your_soul.htm">Is worldly success worth losing your soul?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_a_gentle_and_quiet_spirit.htm">What are the divisions of the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_solomon_didn't_write_ecclesiastes_11.htm">In Ecclesiastes 11, is there any historical or archaeological evidence challenging the traditional belief that Solomon wrote these instructions?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Houses.</span>--<a href="/1_kings/5-11.htm" title="And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.">1Kings 5:11</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/8-4.htm" title="And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.">2Chronicles 8:4</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Vineyards.</span>--<a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm" title="And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:">1Chronicles 27:27</a>; <a href="/songs/8-11.htm" title="Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.">Song of Solomon 8:11</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - This commences a new experience in the pursuit of his object. Leaving this life of self-indulgence, he takes to art and culture, the details being drawn from the accounts of the historical Solomon. <span class="cmt_word">I made me great works</span>; literally, I made <span class="accented">great my works</span>; Septuagint, <span class="greek">Ἐμεγάλυνα ποίημά</span> <span class="accented">per</span>; Vulgate, <span class="accented">Magnificavi opera mea</span>. Among these works the temple, with all its wonderful structural preparations, is not specially mentioned, perhaps because no one could think of Solomon without connecting his name with this magnificent building, and it was superfluous to call attention to it; or else because the religious aspect of his operations is not here in question, but only his taste and pursuit of beauty. But the omission tells strongly against the Solomonic authorship of the book. <span class="cmt_word">I builded me houses.</span> Solomon had a passion for erecting magnificent buildings. We have various accounts of his works of this nature in <a href="/1_kings/7.htm">1 Kings 7</a>. and 9; <a href="/2_chronicles/8.htm">2 Chronicles 8</a>. There was the huge palace for himself, which occupied thirteen years in building; there was the "house of the forest of Lebanon," a splendid hall constructed with pillars of cedar; the porch of pillars; the hall of judgment; the harem for the daughter of Pharaoh. Then there were fortresses, store-cities, chariot-towns, national works of great importance; cities in distant lands which he founded, such as Tadmor in the wilderness. <span class="cmt_word">I planted me vineyards</span>. David had vineyards and olive yards (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm">1 Chronicles 27:27, 28</a>), which passed into the possession of his son; and we read in <a href="/songs/8-11.htm">Song of Solomon 8:11</a> of a vineyard that Solomon had in Baal-hamon, which some identify with Belamon (Judith 8:3), a place near Shunem, in the Plain of Esdraelon. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">I enlarged</span><br /><span class="heb">הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי</span> <span class="translit">(hiḡ·dal·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1431.htm">Strong's 1431: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grow up, become great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my works.</span><br /><span class="heb">מַעֲשָׂ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(ma·‘ă·śāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I built</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנִ֤יתִי</span> <span class="translit">(bā·nî·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><br /><span class="word">myself</span><br /><span class="heb">לִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">houses</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּתִּ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(bāt·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and planted</span><br /><span class="heb">נָטַ֥עְתִּי</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṭa‘·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5193.htm">Strong's 5193: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike in, fix, to plant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">myself</span><br /><span class="heb">לִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">vineyards.</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּרָמִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(kə·rā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> </span><span class="str2">A garden, vineyard</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made myself great works (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 2:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 2:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 2:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 2:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>