Ecclesiastes - 2:5



5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Ecclesiastes 2:5.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds,
I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of every kind of fruit;
I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit.
I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.
I made gardens and orchards. And I planted them with trees of every kind.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Orchards - literally, "paradises," i. e., parks or pleasure-grounds (compare Nehemiah 2:8 note). Indications of at least three of these have been pointed out; one at Jerusalem near the pool of Siloam, called "the king's garden" Nehemiah 3:15; Jeremiah 52:7; a second near Bethlehem (compare Ecclesiastes 2:6); and a third in the remote north, on the heights of Hermon Song 4:8; Song 8:11.

I made one gardens and orchards - פרדסים pardesim, "paradises." I doubt much whether this be an original Hebrew word. ferdoos, is found in the Persian and Arabic; and signifies a pleasant garden, a vineyard. Hence our word paradise, a place full of delights. How well Solomon was qualified to form gardens, orchards, vineyards, conservatories, etc., may be at once conceived when we recollect his knowledge of natural history; and that he wrote treatises on vegetables and their properties, from the cedar to the hyssop.

I made me gardens and orchards,.... Of the king's garden, we read Jeremiah 39:4. Adrichomius (b) makes mention of a royal garden in the suburbs of Jerusalem, fenced with walls; and was a paradise of fruit trees, herbs, spices, and flowers; abounded with all kind of fruit, exceeding pleasant and delightful to the senses: and, as Solomon was so great a botanist, and knew the nature and use of all kinds of trees and herbs, 1-Kings 4:33; no doubt but he has a herbal garden, well stocked with everything of that kind, curious and useful; see 1-Kings 21:2. Gardens are made for pleasure as well as profit; Adam, as soon as created, was put into a garden, to add to his natural pleasure and felicity, as well as for his employment, Genesis 2:8; and the pleasure of walking in a garden, and partaking of the fruits of it, are alluded to by Solomon, Song 4:12;
and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits; which, as before observed, he had thorough knowledge of, and many of which were brought him from foreign parts; and all served to make his gardens, orchards, parks, forests, and enclosures, very pleasant and delectable. The Targum adds,
"some for food, others for drink, and others for medicine.''
(b) Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 170.

gardens--Hebrew, "paradises," a foreign word; Sanskrit, "a place enclosed with a wall"; Armenian and Arabic, "a pleasure ground with flowers and shrubs near the king's house, or castle." An earthly paradise can never make up for the want of the heavenly (Revelation 2:7).

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Ecclesiastes 2:5

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.