Ecclesiastes 4:13
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. | Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. | Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [is] good | ט֛וֹב | Tov | H2896A | fineטָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A) |
| a youth | יֶ֥לֶד | YE-led | H3206 | youthיֶ֫לֶד (ye.led) 1) child, son, boy, offspring, youth 1a) child, son, boy 1b) child, children 1c) descendants 1d) youth 1e) apostate Israelites (fig.) |
| poor | מִסְכֵּ֖ן | mis-KEN | H4542 | poorמִסְכֵּן (mis.ken) poor, poor man |
| and wise | וְחָכָ֑ם | ve-cha-KHAM | H2450 | wiseחָכָם (cha.kham) 1) wise, wise (man) 1a) skilful (in technical work) 1b) wise (in administration) 1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle 1d) learned, shrewd (class of men) 1e) prudent 1f) wise (ethically and religiously) |
| more than a king | מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ | mi-ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| old | זָקֵן֙ | za-KEN | H2205H | old: elderזָקֵן (za.qen) : elder/leader 1) old 1a) old (of humans) 1b) elder (of those having authority) |
| and a fool | וּכְסִ֔יל | u-khe-SIL | H3684 | foolכְּסִיל (ke.sil) fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֛ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| not | לֹא־ | lo'- | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| he knows | יָדַ֥ע | ya-DA' | H3045 | to knowיָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) … |
| to be warned | לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר | le-hi-za-HER | H2094B | to warnזָהַר (za.har) 1) to admonish, warn, teach 1a) (Niphal) to be taught, be admonished 1b) (Hiphil) to teach, warn Aramaic equivalent: ze.har (זְהַר "to take heed" H2095) |
| still | עֽוֹד׃ | od | H5750 | stillעוֹד (od) subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.