Ecclesiastes 4 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Ecclesiastes 4

Evil Under the Sun

4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity¹ and a striving after wind.

5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that² youth who was to stand in the king’s³ place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Footnotes

[1] 4:4 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2)
[2] 4:15 Hebrew the second
[3] 4:15 Hebrew his

Commentary

v1-3: Man is hopeless is the face of oppression, compare Job 3. His conclusion is that he thinks it better never to have been born.

The reality of injustice, that power is in the hands of the oppressor. This has always been the case and will continue to be so, until Christ returns.

v4-8: The vanity of labour and achievement, since they often spring from an attitude of envy and greed and pride; at the same time there is complacency and loneliness. Again, we see that work without faith in God is vanity.

The powerful image in v6 is enhanced by the different Hebrew words. One handful with quietness is one open hand. In contrast two handfuls with toil is two grasping fists.

v9-12: The value of friendship and companionship; this is especially true in Christian service. Their companionship is "a good return." One can encourage the other; at night, two men can lie close to keep warm; in conflict one can defend the other.

Friendship gives us productivity, stability, intimacy and security. No wonder God told Adam it was not good that he should be alone.

v13-14: How sad that a man will be admonished no more, for he has ceased to learn.

v15-16: Although the second youth had become popular, the later generation forgot him, see Ex 1.8; Judg 2.7-10. Human memory is frequently selective memory; like the children of Israel who had testified to preferring life in Egypt! It is ironic that, when Rehoboam, Solomon's son, becamse king, that the people forgot the benefits that Solomn had brought them (1 KIngs 12.4).