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Ecclesiastes 4:5

The kesil foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own basar.

Orthodox Jewish Bible

In The King James Version

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

In Context

4Again, I considered all amal, and every kishron hama'aseh (skillful achievement), that such is a simple derivative of kinat ish meirei'eihu (the envy of man of his neighbor). This also is hevel, a chasing after ruach.

6Better is a handful with tranquility than both the hands full with amal and chasing after ruach.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

Proverbs 6:9Ad mosai wilt thou lie down, O atzel (sluggard, lazy one)? 1 When wilt thou arise out of thy sheynah (sleep)? 1

Proverbs 6:11So shall thy poverty come as a prowler, 1 and thy need as an ish mogen (man of armor). 1

Proverbs 12:27The remiyyah (deceitfully lazy man) roasteth not that which he took in hunting, 1 but diligence is the precious possession of man. 1

Proverbs 20:4The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) will not plow by reason of choref (winter, cold); 1 therefore shall he beg at katzir (harvest), and have nothing. 1

Isaiah 9:20Menasheh against Ephrayim; and Ephrayim, Menasheh; 1 they together shall be against Yehudah. 1 For all this His anger is not turned away; 1 His yad is upraised still.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:5-7

The Prevalence of Oppression. 4 Again, 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. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, ch. ii.… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

King James VersionBíblia Almeida (Português)Luther Bibel (Deutsch)Bible Louis Segond (Français)Библия (Русский)聖經 (中文)성경 (한국어)الكتاب المقدس (العربية)बाइबल (हिन्दी)Biblia (Kiswahili)Bibbia Diodati (Italiano)Alkitab (Bahasa Indonesia)Kinh Thánh (Tiếng Việt)

Study Ecclesiastes 4:5

Matthew HenryJamieson-Fausset-BrownAdam ClarkeJohn WesleyJohn CalvinKeil and DelitzschScofieldFamily Bible NotesGeneva Bible Notes (1599)
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