Ecclesiastes 4 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 (Old Testament)
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 (Old Testament)
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| עָשַׁק — ‘āshaq | Verse 1 — “…the tears of such as were oppressed…” | “Oppress,” extort. | ‘Āshaq (“oppress”) indicates exploitation (“oppress”). The Preacher laments unchecked injustice. The term reflects social and moral disorder. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on Ecclesiastes (1870) |
| נָחַם — nāḥam | Verse 1 — “…they had no comforter.” | “Comfort,” console. | Nāḥam (“to comfort”) emphasizes emotional relief (“comfort”). Its absence intensifies injustice. The term highlights human need for compassion. — C. F. Keil, OT Commentary (1866) |
| קִנְאָה — qin’āh | Verse 4 — “…every right work…envy of his neighbor.” | “Envy,” jealousy. | Qin’āh (“envy”) exposes competitive rivalry (“envy/jealousy”). The Preacher critiques ambition fueled by comparison. The term reveals the futility of striving. — Moses Stuart, Ecclesiastes (1851) |
| כְּסִיל — kesīl | Verse 5 — “The fool foldeth his hands…” | “Fool,” dullard. | Kesīl (“fool”) denotes moral and practical incompetence (“fool”). His inactivity leads to ruin. The term contrasts wisdom and laziness. — Samuel Cox, Ecclesiastes Explained (1888) |
| נַחַת — naḥat | Verse 6 — “…better is an handful with quietness…” | “Rest,” tranquility. | Naḥat (“rest/quietness”) portrays peaceful satisfaction (“quietness”). Simplicity brings greater contentment than striving. The term advocates moderation. — Otto Zöckler, Lange on Ecclesiastes (1870) |
| עָמָל — ‘āmāl | Verse 8 — “…yet there is no end of all his labor…” | “Toil,” hardship. | ‘Āmāl (“toil”) evokes burdensome striving (“labor/toil”). The Preacher critiques endless accumulation. The term underscores work’s futility apart from God. — Delitzsch, Commentary on Ecclesiastes (1870) |
| חֶבֶל — ḥevel | Verse 4 — “…this also is vanity.” | “Vapor,” futility. | Ḥevel (“vapor”) conveys transience (“vanity/futility”). Human striving dissipates like breath. The term encapsulates Ecclesiastes’ theme. — Keil, Commentary on the OT (1866) |
| יַחַד — yaḥad | Verse 9 — “Two are better than one…” | “Together,” united. | Yaḥad (“together”) highlights communal strength (“together”). Mutual support brings advantage. The term stresses relational necessity. — Moses Stuart, Ecclesiastes (1851) |
| חָבַר — ḥāvar | Verse 10 — “…woe to him that is alone…” | “Join,” unite. | Ḥāvar (“join/unite”) reflects partnership (“joined”). Isolation harms human flourishing. The term supports the book’s social wisdom. — Samuel Cox, Ecclesiastes Explained (1888) |
| גָּבַר — gāvar | Verse 12 — “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” | “Prevail,” strengthen. | Gāvar (“to prevail”) connotes strength (“be strong”). Solidarity creates resilience. The term affirms cooperative power. — Otto Zöckler, Lange’s Commentary (1870) |
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4: Recognizing God’s help.
Memory verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The essence of God’s help in our world is something that can never be overemphasized or trifled with. God, in His bid to provide help for us, has put some people in place to be our companions and it’ll be very detrimental to our existence if we refuse to appreciate and recognize their help and influence in our lives. I could remember vividly that most time whenever I’m preparing for my exams, I cultivated the habit of reading personally on my own because I noticed that’s where my retention strength lies.
However, there are times whereby when examinations are fast approaching I visibly get apprehensive about them, this mostly happens when the course I was to write happens to be a problematic one. In times like this, I realize the limitations of my reading and personal study. So what I like to do in times like that is that after my studies, I’d make sure I collaborate with my friends so that we can study together as well, and to be candid it has been so helpful, because, in the course of reading together with them, my friends would ensure that I understand what was somewhat difficult for me to understand erstwhile. Had it been I trivialized the assistance my friends could contribute to my study just imagine how clueless I would have been in the exam hall.
By extension, God has placed people around us, and we should be cognizant of the fact that Two are better than one. Truthfully, our ultimate help comes from above [Psalms 121:1ff] – from God. But in order for God's help to be made effective in our lives, we need to recognize those who God has put in place for us and align with them because, even for God to make his ultimate redemptive mission effective, He had to become a man [John 1:14ff] – Jesus Christ – so that anyone who aligns with Jesus Christ and believes what he’s come to do may enjoy what all effort of the priests could not gave – salvation.
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