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

Again I looked and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter. Power is in the hand of their oppressors, but they had no comforter. 2So I considered the dead, who are already dead, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive. 3Yet better than both is one who has not yet been, who has never seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my righteousness is in it.
• Malachi 3:18Then you will return and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:16I have also seen under the sun: In the place of justice there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there was wickedness.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8Though the profit of the land is taken by all, a king is served by the fields.
• Ecclesiastes 7:7For extortion drives a wise man crazy, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
• Exodus 1:13They worked them harshly,
• Exodus 2:23Now it came about over the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. Bnei-Yisrael groaned because of their slavery. They cried out and their cry from slavery went up to God.
• Exodus 5:16No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ and look, your servants are beaten. But it is your own people at fault.”
• Deuteronomy 28:33A people you do not know will eat up the produce of your soil and all your labor, and you will be only oppressed and crushed all the time.
• Judges 4:3So Bnei-Yisrael cried out to Adonai, for he had 900 iron chariots, and had harshly oppressed Bnei-Yisrael for 20 years.
• Judges 10:7So Adonai’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them over into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
• Nehemiah 5:1Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives to their fellow Jews.
• Job 24:7Without clothing they spend the night naked, without covering against the cold.
• Psalms 10:9He lurks in a hiding place like a lion in a thicket. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the unfortunate one, dragging him away in his net.
• Proverbs 28:3A poor man who oppresses the weak is like pounding rain without food.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of Adonai-Tzva’ot is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah the planting of His delight. He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed, for righteousness, but behold, a cry!

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