Ecclesiastes 4:5

Ecclesiastes 4:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
• New International Version (NIV)Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:5

3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. 4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. 7Then I looked again at futility under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:5 word by word

הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• The foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• foldsחָבַקchâbaq · to embraceH2263
• his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• consumesאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• his own fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:5

• Proverbs 6:10“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,”
• Proverbs 12:27A lazy person does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a person is diligence.
• Proverbs 13:4The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made prosperous.
• Proverbs 20:4The lazy one does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
• Proverbs 24:33“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,”
• Job 13:14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?
• Proverbs 11:17A merciful person does himself good, But the cruel person does himself harm.
• Isaiah 9:20They devour what is on the right hand but are still hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand, but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The fool foldeth his hands - After all, without labor and industry no man can get any comfort in life; and he who gives way to idleness is the veriest of fools.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Foldeth his hands - The envious man is here exhibited in the attitude of the sluggard (marginal references). Eateth his own flesh - i. e., “Destroys himself:” compare a similar expression in Isaiah 49:26; Psalm 27:2; Micah 3:3.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. They often become great and prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more satisfaction in sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that is its own punishment. Let us by honest industry lay hold on the handful, that we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Fools do not try to succeed and end up poor. Others work frantically, using all their time and effort, to chase temporary wealth they will not have time to enjoy (compare Proverbs 23:4–5). Wise people practice moderation and contentment (tranquility).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Still the fool (the wicked oppressor) is not to be envied even in this life, who "folds his hands together" in idleness (Pr 6:10; 24:33), living on the means he wrongfully wrests from others; for such a one eateth his own flesh--that is, is a self-tormentor, never satisfied, his spirit preying on itself (Is 9:20; 49:26).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:5

• Fool
• Idleness

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Threefold
• Fold; Folding
• Fool; Folly
• 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