Ecclesiastes 2:6
Ecclesiastes 2:6 in Multiple Translations
I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;
I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.
I constructed for myself reservoirs to water all these growing trees.
I haue made me cisternes of water, to water therewith the woods that growe with trees.
I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees.
I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
I made me pools of water, to water with them the wood that bringeth forth trees:
And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,
I told them to build reservoirs to store water to irrigate the fruit trees.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 2:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 2:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עָשִׂ֥יתִי
לִ֖/י
בְּרֵכ֣וֹת
מָ֑יִם
לְ/הַשְׁק֣וֹת
מֵ/הֶ֔ם
יַ֖עַר
צוֹמֵ֥חַ
עֵצִֽים
עָשִׂ֥יתִי
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
לִ֖/י
Prep | Suff
בְּרֵכ֣וֹת
bᵉrêkâh
H1295
pool
N-fp
מָ֑יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
לְ/הַשְׁק֣וֹת
shâqâh
H8248
to water
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
מֵ/הֶ֔ם
Prep | Suff
יַ֖עַר
yaʻar
H3293
Jaar
N-ms
צוֹמֵ֥חַ
tsâmach
H6779
to spring
V-Qal
עֵצִֽים
ʻêts
H6086
tree
N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 2:6
עָשִׂ֥יתִי
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לִ֖/י
""
Prep | Suff
בְּרֵכ֣וֹת
bᵉrêkâh
H1295
"pool"
N-fp
A pool is a reservoir of water, like those where camels rest. In the Bible, it refers to a place where fish live, providing food for people.
Definition: pool, pond
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (fish-) pool. See also: 2 Samuel 2:13; Nehemiah 3:16; Isaiah 7:3.
מָ֑יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
לְ/הַשְׁק֣וֹת
shâqâh
H8248
"to water"
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
This verb means to give water or a drink to someone or something, often used in stories like Genesis and Exodus. It describes providing sustenance and care, like God giving water to the Israelites in the desert.
Definition: : watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS) 1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to water, irrigate 1a2) to water, give drink to 1b) (Pual) to be watered 1c) (Niphal) variant
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. See H7937 (שָׁכַר), H8354 (שָׁתָה). See also: Genesis 2:6; 1 Chronicles 11:17; Psalms 36:9.
מֵ/הֶ֔ם
""
Prep | Suff
יַ֖עַר
yaʻar
H3293
"Jaar"
N-ms
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Definition: honeycomb Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: (honey-) comb, forest, wood. See also: Deuteronomy 19:5; Isaiah 10:18; Psalms 29:9.
צוֹמֵ֥חַ
tsâmach
H6779
"to spring"
V-Qal
To spring or grow is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can describe plants, hair, or even ideas. It's used to talk about new life or development, like a seed sprouting or a person's speech growing more fluent.
Definition: 1) to sprout, spring up, grow up 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to sprout, spring up 1a1a) of plants 1a1b) of hair 1a1c) of speech (fig.) 1b) (Piel) to grow abundantly or thickly 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to grow 1c2) to cause to sprout
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: bear, bring forth, (cause to, make to) bud (forth), (cause to, make to) grow (again, up), (cause to) spring (forth, up). See also: Genesis 2:5; Psalms 104:14; Psalms 85:12.
עֵצִֽים
ʻêts
H6086
"tree"
N-mp
This Hebrew word for tree or wood refers to a strong and firm object, like a tree or a wooden plank, as seen in the carpentry work of Jesus' earthly father Joseph in Matthew 13:55.
Definition: : wood 1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows 1a) tree, trees 1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
Usage: Occurs in 289 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. See also: Genesis 1:11; Joshua 9:23; Psalms 1:3.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 2:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 2:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Barnes' Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:6
Context — The Futility of Pleasure
4I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
5I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.
6I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.
7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, 8and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nehemiah 2:14 | Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through; |
| 2 | Psalms 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 17:8 | He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. |
| 4 | Song of Solomon 7:4 | Your neck is like a tower made of ivory; your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus. |
Ecclesiastes 2:6 Summary
In Ecclesiastes 2:6, King Solomon is talking about how he built reservoirs to water his beautiful gardens and parks. This is like how we need to nurture and care for the things that are important to us, like our relationships and our spiritual growth. Just like King Solomon's gardens needed water to flourish, we need to prioritize our relationship with God and seek Him first, as taught in Matthew 6:33. By doing so, we can find true fulfillment and joy, as promised in Psalm 16:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to build reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees in Ecclesiastes 2:6?
In this context, building reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees means that the author, King Solomon, was taking great care to nurture and sustain the beautiful gardens and parks he had created, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 2:5. This is similar to how God cares for His people, as seen in Isaiah 58:11, where He promises to guide and satisfy the righteous.
Is King Solomon's focus on building and acquiring wealth and possessions in Ecclesiastes 2:4-8 a form of idolatry?
While King Solomon's actions in themselves are not necessarily idolatrous, his focus on accumulating wealth and possessions can be seen as a form of idolatry if it becomes an end in itself, rather than a means to glorify God, as warned against in 1 Timothy 6:10 and Matthew 6:24.
How does Ecclesiastes 2:6 relate to the concept of stewardship in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 2:6 illustrates the concept of stewardship, where King Solomon is using the resources God has given him to create and sustain beautiful things, as seen in Genesis 1:28, where God gives humanity dominion over the earth to care for it. This is an example of responsible stewardship, but it also raises questions about the motivations behind our actions, as discussed in Matthew 25:14-30.
What can we learn from King Solomon's experiences in Ecclesiastes 2:6 about the nature of true fulfillment?
King Solomon's experiences in Ecclesiastes 2:6 suggest that true fulfillment cannot be found solely in the accumulation of wealth and possessions, but rather in a relationship with God, as expressed in Psalm 16:11, where David finds joy and fulfillment in God's presence.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I use the resources God has given me to create and sustain beauty in my own life, and how can I use these resources to glorify Him?
- In what ways do I prioritize my own desires and pursuits over my relationship with God, and how can I rebalance my priorities to seek first His kingdom, as taught in Matthew 6:33?
- How do I define 'flourishing' in my own life, and what steps can I take to nurture and sustain the things that truly bring me joy and fulfillment, as discussed in John 15:1-11?
- What are some 'reservoirs' or sources of spiritual nourishment that I can draw upon to sustain my own spiritual growth and development, such as prayer, Scripture reading, and fellowship with other believers, as mentioned in Acts 2:42-47?
- In what ways can I use my own experiences and pursuits to point others to the true source of fulfillment and joy, which is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, as expressed in 1 Corinthians 10:31?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:6
I made me pools of water,.... For cascades and water works to play in, as well as to keep and produce fish of all kinds: mention is made of the king's pools, Ne 2:14; the fish pools at Heshbon, by
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:6
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
I made me pools of water, because the rain there fell but seldom. The wood that bringeth forth trees; the nurseries of young trees newly planted in the orchards, which for the multitude of them were like a wood or forest.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:Ver. 6. To water therewith the wood,] i.e., The gardens or hort yards, that were as large as little woods. Christ’ s garden in the Canticles, as it hath a wall, so a well to water it, and make it fruitful.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
(6) Pools.—In a place south of Bethlehem are still pointed out three gigantic reservoirs, known as the Pools of Solomon (Stanley’s Jewish Church, 2:197). The place is probably the same as that called Etham by Josephus in his description of Solomon’s luxury (Ant. viii. 7. 3). Josephus speaks of another Pool of Solomon (Bell. Jud. v. 4. 2). Tanks are necessary for irrigation in a land where natural streams are few and are dried up in summer. The king’s pool is mentioned in Nehemiah 2:14.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
Verse 6. Pools of water] Tanks and reservoirs. To water therewith the wood] Aqueducts to lead the water from the tanks to different parts.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:6
6. I made me pools of water] Those at Etam have been mentioned above. Besides these we have the fish-pools of Heshbon (Song Son 7:4), the pool of the king (Nehemiah 2:14), possibly also, the pools of Siloam (John 9:7), and Beth-esda (John 5:2). In Palestine, as in India, these large tanks or reservoirs of water, as meeting the necessities of the climate, were among the favourite works of kingly munificence. Stress is laid on the fact that they were not for beauty only, but for service in irrigating the extensive park. the wood that bringeth forth trees] Better, “a grove making trees to bud,” i. e. in the language of modern gardening, a “nursery” for young trees.
Barnes' Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:6
Pools - A short distance south of Bethlehem, in a valley in the defile of Urtas, three “Pools of Solomon” are still shown and an adjoining hill still bears the name of the “Little Paradise.”
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:6
6. Pools of water — The making of cisterns and fixtures for watering gardens is in the dry East indispensable. For such purpose, in part, the now famous Pools of Solomon, south of Bethlehem, may have been constructed.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Power of the Ministry Pt 1 by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher begins by referencing the story of Jacob in the Bible, who encountered God in a dream and saw a ladder connecting heaven and earth. The preacher then p |
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Christian Growth - Part 6 by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob from the Bible. Jacob had lived his life independently of God, making mistakes and facing the consequences. Eventually, Go |
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Resources for Christian Living by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of experiencing a deep and ongoing relationship with God. He warns against becoming complacent or shallow in one's faith and u |
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The Holy Spirit & Power for the Ministry by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of the miracle of a Spirit-filled life. He refers to the crowd's questions on the day of Pentecost, asking what the events mea |
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God Bless Us by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a Peruvian man named Angel Cominates who has planted over 500 churches in northern Peru. Despite his humble circumstances, Angel's |
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The Church Today Asleep & in Bondage #6 by Milton Green | This sermon focuses on the concept of being a new creation in Christ, akin to a second Adam, and being conformed to the image of Jesus. It delves into the idea of bearing fruit in |
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(Second Coming of Christ) 15 the Delights of the Paradise of God by Aeron Morgan | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the delights of the city as described in the book of Revelation. The sermon begins by highlighting the incredible foundations and structure o |