Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 4

Ecclesiastes 4:6

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.

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

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
[is] goodט֕וֹבTovH2896A
fine

טָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A)

fullness ofמְלֹ֥אme-LO'H4393
fullness

מְלֹא (me.lo) 1) fulness, that which fills 1a) fulness, handful 1b) mass, multitude 1c) fulness, that which fills, entire contents 1d) full length, full line

hand ofכַ֖ףkhafH3709G
palm

כַּף (kaph) : palm/hand 1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand 1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand 1b) power 1c) sole (of the foot) 1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects 1d1) of thigh-joint 1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow) 1d3) hollow (of sling) 1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees) 1d5) handles (as bent)

quietnessנָ֑חַתNA-chatH5183A
quietness

נַ֫חַת (na.chat) 1) rest, quietness 1a) quietness, quiet attitude 1b) rest (of death)

more than [the] fullness ofמִמְּלֹ֥אmi-me-LO'H4393
fullness

מְלֹא (me.lo) 1) fulness, that which fills 1a) fulness, handful 1b) mass, multitude 1c) fulness, that which fills, entire contents 1d) full length, full line

two handsחָפְנַ֛יִםcha-fe-NA-yimH2651
palm

חֹ֫פֶן (cho.phen) handfuls, hollow of the hand

toilעָמָ֖ל'a-MALH5999
trouble

עָמָל (a.mal) 1) toil, trouble, labour 1a) trouble 1b) trouble, mischief 1c) toil, labour

and striving ofוּרְע֥וּתu-re-'UTH7469
longing

רְעוּת (re.ut) longing, striving Aramaic equivalent: re.ut (רְעוּ "pleasure" H7470)

windרֽוּחַ׃RU-achH7307H
spirit

רוּחַ (ru.ach) : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.