Ecclesiastes 4:2

Ecclesiastes 4:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
• New International Version (NIV)And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

Context of Ecclesiastes 4:2

1So 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. So 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. 4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:2 word by word

וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wherefore I praisedשָׁבַחshâbach · to praiseH7623
• the deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• which are alreadyכְּבָרkebâr · alreadyH3528
• more than the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
• which are yetעֲדֶן‛ăden ‛ădennâh · stillH5728

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:2

• Ecclesiastes 2:17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile – like chasing the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 9:4But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.
• Job 3:17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Wherefore I praised the dead - I considered those happy who had escaped from the pilgrimage of life to the place where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2In places with oppression, the dead are better off than the living. The dead no longer suffer mistreatment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. A profane sentiment if severed from its connection; but just in its bearing on Solomon's scope. If religion were not taken into account (Ec 3:17, 19), to die as soon as possible would be desirable, so as not to suffer or witness "oppressions"; and still more so, not to be born at all (Ec 7:1). Job (Job 3:12; 21:7), David (Psa 73:3, &c.), Jeremiah (Jr 12:1), Habakkuk (Ha 1:13), all passed through the same perplexity, until they went into the sanctuary…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:2

• Death

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Threefold
• Canon of the Old Testament
• 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