Ecclesiastes 4:7

So ¹  I again considered ²  another ³  futile thing on earth: ⁴ 

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

I observed yet another example of meaninglessness in our world.

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness:

SABDAweb Ecc 4:7

Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

bibleoremus Ecc 4:7

Again, I saw vanity under the sun:

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

biblegateway Ecc 4:7

So ¹  I again considered ²  another ³  futile thing on earth: ⁴ 

¹ tn The prefixed vav on וְשַׁבְתִּי (vÿshavti, vav + perfect 1st person common singular from שׁוּב, shuv, “to turn”) might be: (1) introductory (and left untranslated): “I observed again…”; (2) consequence of preceding statement: “So I observed again…”; or (3) continuation of preceding statement: “And I observed again….”

² tn Heb “I turned and I saw…”; or “I again considered.” The Hebrew phrase וָאֶרְאֶה…וְשַׁבְתִּי (vÿshavti…va’er’eh, “I turned and I saw”) is a verbal hendiadys (the two verbs represent one common idea). Normally in a verbal hendiadys, the first verb functions adverbially, modifying the second verb which retains its full verbal force. The verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to turn”) is used idiomatically to denote repetition: “to return and do” = “to do again” (e.g., Gen 26:18; 30:31; 43:2) or “to do repeatedly” (e.g., Lam 3:3); see HALOT 1430 s.v. שׁוב 5; BDB 998 s.v. שׁוּב 8; GKC 386 §120.e: “I observed again” or “I repeatedly observed.” On the other hand, the shift from the perfect וְשַׁבְתִּי (vav + perfect 1st person common singular from שׁוּב, “to turn”) to the preterite וָאֶרְאֶה (vav + Qal preterite 1st person common singular from רָאָה, ra’ah, “to see”) might indicate a purpose clause: “I turned [my mind] to consider….” The preterite וָאֶרְאֶה follows the perfect וְשַׁבְתִּי. When a wayyiqtol form (vav + preterite) follows a perfect in reference to a past-time situation, the preterite also represents a past-time situation. Its aspect is based on the preceding perfect. In this context, the perfect and preterite may denote definite past or indefinite past action (“I turned and considered …” as hendiadys for “I observed again” or “I repeatedly observed”) or past telic action (“I turned [my mind] to consider…”). See IBHS 554-55 §33.3.1a.

³ tn The word “another” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Heb “under the sun.”