Ecclesiastes 4
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1So 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.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- אֵתʼêthH85311× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8349× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- גַּםgamH15718× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- כֹּלkôlH36057× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- אַיִןʼayinH3697× in this chapter
a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
- אֶחָדʼechâdH2596× in this chapter
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
- טוֹבṭôwbH28966× in this chapter
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
- לֹאlôʼH38086× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- כִּיkîyH35885× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- אֲנִיʼănîyH5895× in this chapter
I
- רָאָהrâʼâhH72005× in this chapter
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
- תַּחַתtachathH84785× in this chapter
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
- הֶבֶלhebelH18924× in this chapter
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
- עָמָלʻâmâlH59994× in this chapter
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
- שֶׁמֶשׁshemeshH81214× in this chapter
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
- שְׁנַיִםshᵉnayimH81474× in this chapter
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
- זֶהzehH20883× in this chapter
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
- חַיchayH24163× in this chapter
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
- אִםʼimH5183× in this chapter
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
- רוּחַrûwachH73073× in this chapter
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
- שֵׁנִיshênîyH81453× in this chapter
properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
- הוּאhûwʼH19312× in this chapter
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
- הָיָהhâyâhH19612× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- חָמַםchâmamH25522× in this chapter
to be hot (literally or figuratively)
- יָדyâdH30272× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- יֶלֶדyeledH32062× in this chapter
something born, i.e. a lad or offspring
- יֵשׁyêshH34262× in this chapter
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
- כְּסִילkᵉçîylH36842× in this chapter
properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
- מוּתmûwthH41912× in this chapter
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
- מְלֹאmᵉlôʼH43932× in this chapter
fulness (literally or figuratively)
- מִןminH44802× in this chapter
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
- מַעֲשֶׂהmaʻăsehH46392× in this chapter
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
- נָחַםnâchamH51622× in this chapter
properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself)
- נָפַלnâphalH53072× in this chapter
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
- עֲדֶןʻădenH57282× in this chapter
till now
- עָמַדʻâmadH59752× in this chapter
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62132× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- עָשׁוּקʻâshûwqH62172× in this chapter
used in plural masculine as abstractly, tyranny
- קוּםqûwmH69652× in this chapter
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
- קֵץqêtsH70932× in this chapter
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after