Ecclesiastes 4:7

Ecclesiastes 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
• New International Version (NIV)Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:7

5The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy]. 6One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind. Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms]. 8There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task. 9Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

Ecclesiastes 4:7 word by word

וְשַׁ֧בְתִּי אֲנִ֛י וָאֶרְאֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• and I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:7

• Psalms 78:33Therefore He consumed their days like a breath [in emptiness and futility] And their years in sudden terror.
• Zechariah 1:6But did not My words (warnings) and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts planned to do to us [in discipline and punishment], in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so has He dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:7

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation. Ecclesiastes 4:8 A second - Any one associated or connected with him. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Compare a saying from the Talmud: “A man without companions is like the left hand without the right.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7Verse 7 ,8 Frequently, the more men have, the more they would have; and on this they are so intent, that they get no enjoyment from what they have. Selfishness is the cause of this evil. A selfish man cares for nobody; there is none to take care of but himself, yet he will scarcely allow necessary rest to himself, and the people he employs. He never thinks he has enough. He has enough for his calling, for his family, but he has not enough for his eyes…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8This lonely man is an example of the idea in Ecclesiastes 4:6.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. A vanity described in Ec 4:8.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:7

• Avarice
• Miser

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Threefold
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings