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Texts -- Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 (NET)

Context
Evil Oppression on Earth
4:1 So 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 . 4:2 So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive . 4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth .
Labor Motivated by Envy
4:4 Then 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 . 4:5 The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh . 4:6 Better is one handful handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind .
Labor Motivated by Greed
4:7 So I again considered another futile thing on earth : 4:8 A man who is all alone with no companion , he has no children nor siblings ; yet there is no end to all his toil , and he is never satisfied with riches . He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure ?” This also is futile and a burdensome task !
Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared
4:9 Two people are better than one , because they can reap more benefit from their labor . 4:10 For if they fall , one will help his companion up , but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up . 4:11 Furthermore , if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm , but how can one person keep warm by himself? 4:12 Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken .
Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking
4:13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice . 4:14 For he came out of prison to become king , even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom . 4:15 I considered all the living who walk on earth , as well as the successor who would arise in his place . 4:16 There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations , yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Philosophy

    [nave] PHILOSOPHY The nature of things, Eccl. 1-7. A philosophical inquiry on wisdom, Job. 28. Philosophical inductions and deductions relating to God and his providence, Job 5:8-20; 9; 10:2-21; 12:6-24; 33:12-30; 37. Reveals th...

  • Instruction

    [nave] INSTRUCTION From nature, Prov. 24:30-34; Eccl. 1:13-18; 3; 4:1; Matt. 6:25-30. See: Parables. From the study of human nature, Eccl. 3-12. By Object Lessons: The pot of maa, Ex. 16:32. The pillar of twelve stones at the f...

  • Life

    [nave] LIFE. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Brevity and Uncertainty of; Everlasting; From God; Long; Spiritual. Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics Breath of, Gen. 2:7. Called Spirit of God, Job 27:3. Tree of,...

  • Friendship

    [nave] FRIENDSHIP. Deut. 13:6-9; Job 6:14, 15; Job 16:2, 20; Job 19:13-22; Psa. 35:13, 14; Psa. 41:9; Psa. 55:12-14; Psa. 88:8, 18; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 17:9, 17; Prov. 18:24; Prov. 22:24-27; Prov. 25:17, 19; Prov. 27:6, 9, 10, 14, ...

  • Fellowship

    [nave] FELLOWSHIP. Eccl. 4:9-12; Amos 3:3 See: Fraternity; Fellowship. With God Gen. 5:22, 24; Gen. 6:9; Ex. 29:45; Ex. 33:14-17; Lev. 26:12; Isa. 57:15; Zech. 2:10; Mark 9:37; John 14:23; John 17:21, 23; 2 Cor. 6:16; 2 Cor. 13:...

  • Union

    [nave] UNION, advantages of, Prov. 15:22; Eccl. 4:9-12. Of the Righteous See: Unity, Of the Righteous; of the righteous with Christ, See: Righteous, Unity of, with Christ.

  • Poor

    [isbe] POOR - poor ('ebhyon, dal, `ani, rush; ptochos): I. In the Old Testament. The poor have great prominence in the Bible; it is said, indeed, that there should be no poor among the Hebrews because Yahweh should so greatly bless...
    [nave] POOR Atonement money of, uniform with that of the rich, Ex. 30:15. Inexpensive offerings of the poor, Lev. 5:7; 12:8; 14:21, 22. See: Beneficence; Giving; Liberality; Orphans; Poverty; Widow. Also See: Rich; Riches. Uncl...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...

  • Cord

    [ebd] frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Ex. 35:18; 39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners (Judg. 15:13; Ps. 2:3; 129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2; Ps. 78:55). Figuratively,...
    [isbe] CORD - kord (chebhet, yether, methar, `abhoth; schoinion): (1) The Arabic chab'l corresponds to the Hebrew chebhel and is still the common name for cord or rope throughout the East. Such ropes or cords are made of goat's or ...
    [nave] CORD Ancient uses of: In casting lots, Mic. 2:5; fastening tents, Ex. 35:18; 39:40; Isa. 54:2; leading or binding animals, Psa. 118:27; Hos. 11:4; hitching to cart or plough, Job 39:10; binding prisoners, Judg. 15:13; measur...

  • Greed

    [nave] GREED. Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:17 Deut. 5:21. Neh. 5:7; Job 20:15; Job 31:24, 25, 28; Psa. 10:3; Psa. 119:36; Prov. 1:19; Prov. 11:24, 26; Prov. 15:27; Prov. 21:25, 26; Prov. 22:16; Prov. 23:4, 5; Prov. 30:8, 9; Eccl. 1:8 vs. 2-8...

  • Oppression

    [isbe] OPPRESSION - o-presh'-un: Used in the King James Version to translate a variety of Hebrew words, all of which, however, agree in the general sense of wrong done by violence to others. There are a few cases where the referenc...
    [nave] OPPRESSION God is a refuge from, Psa. 9:9. Prayers against, Psa. 17:9; 44:24; 119:121,134; Isa. 38:14. God's aid promised against, Psa. 12:5; 72:4, 14; Jer. 50:34. God will judge, Psa. 103:6; Eccl. 5:8; Isa. 10; Jer. 22:1...

  • Vanity

    [nave] VANITY A consequence of the fall, Rom. 8:20. Every one is, Psa. 39:11. Every state of mankind is, Psa. 62:9. Mankind in his best estate is, Psa. 39:5. Mankind is like to, Psa. 144:4. The thoughts of mankind are, Psa. 94...

  • Miser

    [nave] MISER, Eccl. 4:7, 8.

  • Thread

    [nave] THREAD translated as cord, line, ribbon, etc. Gen. 14:23; Josh. 2:18; Judg. 16:12; 1 Kin. 7:15; Eccl. 4:12; Song 4:3

  • Fool

    [nave] FOOL: Psa. 5:5; Psa. 14:1 Psa. 53:1. Psa. 74:18, 22; Psa. 107:17; Prov. 1:7, 22; Prov. 3:35; Prov. 9:6-8, 13-17; Prov. 10:1, 8 v. 10.13,14,18,23Prov. 14:1, 7-9, 15; Prov. 15:7, 20, 21; Prov. 17:24, 25; Prov. 18:2, 6, 7; Pro...

  • Envy

    [nave] ENVY See: Strife.Job 5:2, 3; Psa. 37:1, 7 Prov. 24:19. Psa. 49:16; Psa. 73:3 vs. 17-20.; Psa. 112:10; Prov. 3:31; Prov. 14:30; Prov. 23:17; Prov. 24:1; Prov. 27:4; Eccl. 4:4; Song 8:6; Isa. 26:11; Ezek. 35:11; Rom. 1:29; Rom...

  • Rope

    [nave] ROPE Threefold, Eccl. 4:12. Worn on the head as an emblem of servitude, 1 Kin. 20:31, 32. Used in casting lots, Mic. 2:5. Figurative Of love, Hos. 11:4. Of affliction, Job 36:8. Of temptations, Psa. 140:5; Prov. 5:22. ...

  • Poverty

    [nave] POVERTY. Prov. 6:11; Prov. 10:15; Prov. 15:16; Prov. 16:8 Eccl. 4:6. Prov. 20:13; Prov. 23:21; Prov. 24:33, 34; Prov. 28:19; Prov. 30:8, 9 See: Poor, The.

  • Laziness

    [nave] LAZINESS Prov. 6:6, 9-11 Prov. 24:33. Prov. 10:4, 5, 26; Prov. 12:9, 24, 27; Prov. 13:4; Prov. 14:23; Prov. 15:19; Prov. 18:9; Prov. 19:15, 24; Prov. 20:4, 13; Prov. 21:25, 26; Prov. 23:21; Prov. 24:30, 31, 33, 34; Prov. 26:...

  • Jealousy

    [nave] JEALOUSY. Prov. 6:34; 27:4; Eccl. 4:4; Song 8:6. Law concerning, when husband is jealous of his wife, Num. 5:12-31. Image of, Ezek. 8:3, 4. Forbidden, Rom. 13:13. Attributed to God, Ex. 20:5; 34:13, 14; Num. 25:11; Deut...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • I believe that the message of Ecclesiastes is essentially a positive one. This may seem strange since the vanity of various human endeavors is such a major theme of this book. Nevertheless the total statement that Solomon mad...
  • I. The introductory affirmation 1:1-11A. Title and theme 1:1-21. The title 1:12. The theme 1:2B. The futility of all human endeavor 1:3-111. The vanity of work 1:32. The illustrations from life 1:4-11II. The futility of work ...
  • "Vanity"(Heb. hebel) means "meaningless."11As Solomon used this word in Ecclesiastes he meant lacking real substance, value, permanence, or significance. "All"in the context of what he proceeded to describe refers to all huma...
  • Rather than saying, "All work is vanity,"Solomon made the same point by asking this rhetorical question that expects a negative response. He used this literary device often throughout the book (cf. 2:2; 3:9; 6:8, 11-12; et al...
  • Solomon had unique resources for investigating life. He was the king of Israel (v. 12), and he possessed superlative wisdom (v. 13; cf. v. 16; 1 Kings 4:26-34). He says he made a comprehensive study of all kinds of human acti...
  • Thus far Solomon had reflected on the futility of all human endeavor generally (1:3-11) and the futility of human achievement (1:12-15) and his own achievements in particular (2:1-17). Next he turned to an evaluation of labor...
  • In this section Solomon expressed his conviction that in view of God's incomprehensible workings all human toil is without permanent profit.3:1-8 As is customary in Ecclesiastes the writer began this section by stating a thes...
  • The phrase "vanity and striving after wind"(vv. 4, 16) brackets this section. This structure emphasizes the relative futility of everything between these statements. The main theme seems to be "the power complex common among ...
  • "Every labor and every skill"(v. 4) undoubtedly means every type of labor and skill rather than every individual instance of these things. This is hyperbole. Much achievement is the result of a desire to be superior. Verse 5 ...
  • The reader cannot miss the folly of working just to accumulate more in this powerful description."Such a man, even with a wife and children, will have little time for them, convinced that he is toiling for their benefit altho...
  • It is also futile to work to gain advancement and popularity."He has reached a pinnacle of human glory, only to be stranded there."46Verse 14 evidently describes the poor lad in verse 13 rather than the king. The second lad o...
  • Again Solomon urged the enjoyment of life (v. 18; cf. 2:24-26; 3:12-13, 22), but he warned of some obstacles to that enjoyment. Solomon was not advocating hedonism but the simple enjoyment of life day by day (v. 18). In other...
  • 9:1 "All this"refers to the general pattern of God's inconsistent retribution that Solomon had discussed. Even though he could not predict whether a given person would experience prosperity or adversity, he believed all peopl...
  • In 1:12-6:9, Solomon demonstrated that all work is ultimately futile for two reasons. It does not yield anything really permanent under the sun. Moreover we can never be sure we will enjoy the fruits of our labor before we di...
  • In conclusion Solomon repeated his original thesis (v. 8; cf. 1:2) and his counsel in view of life's realities (vv. 13-14). In between these statements he set forth his source of authority for writing what we have in Ecclesia...
  • Jesus continued to minister in Galilee. His ministry to the Twelve was an important part of His ministry. It prepared the disciples for further future service. It also anticipated His ministry through them following His ascen...
  • James proceeded to explain in 1:26-2:13 what a doer of works (1:25) does.1:26 "Religious"(Gr. threskos, used here only in the New Testament) describes someone who fears or worships God. In particular, it refers to the outward...
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