Ecclesiastes 4:1

Ecclesiastes 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:1

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors. 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. 3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Ecclesiastes 4:1 word by word

וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So I returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• and consideredרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• all the oppressionsעָשׁוּקִים‛âshûq ‛âshûq · oppressionH6217
• that are doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• and behold the tearsדִּמְעָהdim‛âh · tearsH1832
• oppressedעָשַׁק‛âshaq · to oppressH6231
• and they had no comforterנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: comfortH5162
• and on the sideיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
• powerכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:1

• Job 6:29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact!
• Malachi 3:18Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
• Ecclesiastes 3:16I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
• Ecclesiastes 7:7Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.
• Exodus 1:13and they made the Israelites serve rigorously.
• Exodus 2:23During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God.
• Exodus 5:16No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people.”
• Deuteronomy 28:33As for the produce of your land and all your labor, a people you do not know will consume it, and you will be nothing but oppressed and crushed for the rest of your lives.
• Judges 4:3The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
• Judges 10:7The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites.
• Nehemiah 5:1Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.
• Job 24:7They spend the night naked because they lack clothing; they have no covering against the cold.
• Psalms 10:9He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.
• Proverbs 28:3A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.
• Isaiah 5:7Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got – disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got – cries for help!

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Considered all the oppressions - עשקים ashukim signifies any kind of injury which a man can receive in his person, his property, or his good fame. On the side of their oppressors there was power - And, therefore, neither protection nor comfort for the oppressed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1So I returned, and considered - Rather, And I returned and saw. He turns to look upon other phenomena, and to test his previous conclusion by them. Oppressed - See the introduction to Ecclesiastes.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Miseries from oppression. (Eccl. 4:1-3) troubles from envy. (Eccl. 4:4-6) The folly of covetousness. (Eccl. 4:7,8) The advantages of mutual assistance. (Eccl. 4:9-12) the changes of royalty. (Eccl. 4:13-16) Verses 1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right. Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and misery of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and to each other. Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1all the oppression: Oppression is widespread in society. It occurs in families, religions, workplaces, governments, and from foreign powers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-16Ec 4:1-16. 1. returned--namely, to the thought set forth (Ec 3:16; Job 35:9). power--Maurer, not so well, "violence." no comforter--twice said to express continued suffering without any to give comfort (Is 53:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:1

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Instruction
• Oppression
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Threefold
• Hand
• Oppression
• Synagogue, the Great
• Tears

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