Ecclesiastes 10:19 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

A feast (Hebrew, bread) is made for laughter. Their meals are taken, not for strength, but for self-indulgent excess. Referring to Ecclesiastes 10:18. Instead of repairing the breaches in the commonwealth (the "building"), the princes 'make a feast for laughter' (Ecclesiastes 10:16), and wine maketh their life glad.

But money answereth all (things) - i:e., by having money they can have what they wish; all things are at the call of money, and it answers all charges; so they take bribes to support their extravagance; and hence arise the wrongs that are perpetrated (Ecclesiastes 10:5-6; Isaiah 1:23); e.g., the heavy taxes, which were the occasion of Rehoboam losing ten tribes.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.