This translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Several other translations are available here.
Excerpts from definitions of what seem to be key the Hebrew words are set out following the scriptural text. The sources are hyperlinked.
That is followed by excerpts from the scriptural texts that tell us what about God or His ways, what we should do, and what we should not do.
That is followed by commentary, in blue. The commentary is my own, so it is not entitled to any particular weight.
Scriptural Text:
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
Definitions:
Enjoy = רָאָה= ra'ah
to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out; to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish; to look at, gaze at; to be pleased with the sight of; to regard, have respect
King James, American Standard Version, and Webster’s Bible:
“Live joyfully”
New Living Translation:
“Live happily”
Youngs Literal Translation:
“See life”
New Jerusalem Bible:
“Spend your life”
love = אָהַב= 'ahab
human love for another, includes family, and sexual; act of being a friend; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); to desire, breathe after; to delight; to be verdant, to germinate
reward= חֵלֶק= cheleq
portion, share, part, territory; one's portion, one's possession; portion, award (from God); smoothness, seductiveness, flattery; an allotment, inheritance.
What this passage tells us:
What this passage tells us about God/His ways:
He has given to you
for this is your reward in life and in your toil
under the sun.
What this passage tells us to do:
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love
all the days of your fleeting life
Commentary:
The key verb here seems to be “[e]njoy.”
Most of the definition of “enjoy” given above seems different from most of the translations quoted above.
Most of those definitions tell us to give thought to, be intentional about, appreciate, your relationship with your wife.
· That sounds similar to the "understanding"counseled in 1 Peter 3:17. It also sounds like the kind of approach that would be essential to effectively "cleanse" and "nourish" your wife per Ephesians 5:26-27.
So how does a husband do that?
· By giving thought to/identifying his wife’s needs, so that he can prioritize them over his own desires/meet those needs per Ephesians 5:25-26. That sounds like learning her “love language.”
· By thoughtfully looking for things that are aggravating, injurious, deleterious to her and seeking to avoid/eliminate them
· Spending time with her, interacting, conversing with her on more than a superficial way—getting to know her better.
· By learning the principles/dynamics that scripture says guide a good marriage and intentionally trying to do his part of them.
All those things would also be likely to lead to a result consistent with the translations quoted above: joy in marriage.
Most of the translations quoted above are consistent with the type of "rejoic[ing] discussed in Proverbs 5:15-19.
That idea that an intentional/thoughtful/analytical approach to the wife’s nature/needs leads to joy in marriage is similar to the insight that marriage is one of the types of blessings that requires work in order to receive the full benefit of it.
The overall point of this verse is that we are not to take our wives for granted, but instead are to treasure/savor them and seriously consider/prioritize our relationship with them.
· Because they are a gift/reward from God as one of the key helps He gives us to get through life. That concept is also set out in Genesis 2:18-25.
· The idea that we are devote such attention to our marriage because it is a key help to getting through life is consistent with the concept in Ephesians 5:28-29 that we are to care for our wives as we do for our bodies.
We are to do these things “all the days of [our] fleeting lives.” That is consistent with the direction in Proverbs 5:19 that we should “always” and “at all times” be exhilarated with our wives.
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