Ecclesiastes 4:13
"Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king,.... The wise man proceeds to show the vanity of worldly power and dignity, in the highest instance of it, which is kingly; and, in order to illustrate and exemplify this, he supposes, on the one hand, a person possessed of royal honour; who has long enjoyed it, is settled in his kingdom, and advanced in years; and who otherwise, for his gravity and dignity, would be venerable; but that he is foolish, a person of a mean genius and small capacity; has but

little knowledge of government, or but little versed in the arts of it, though he has held the reins of it long in his hand; and, which is worst of all, is vicious and wicked: on the other hand, he supposes one that is in his tender years, not yet arrived to manhood; and so may be thought to be giddy and inexperienced, and therefore taken but little notice of; and especially being poor, becomes contemptible, as well as labours under the disadvantage of a poor education; his parents poor, and he not able to get books and masters to teach him knowledge; nor to travel abroad to see the world, and make his observations on men and things; and yet being wise, having a good genius, which he improves in the best manner he can, to his own profit, and to make himself useful in the world; and especially if he is wise and knowing in the best things, and fears God, and serves him; he is more happy, in his present state and circumstances, than the king before described is in his, and is fitter to take his place, and be a king, than he is; for though he is young, yet wise, and improving in knowledge, and willing to be advised and counselled by others, older and wiser than himself; he is much to be preferred to one that is old and foolish; who will no more be admonished; or, "knows not to be admonished any more" (d): he neither knows how to give nor take advice; he is impatient of all counsel; cannot bear any admonition; is stubborn and self-willed, and resolved to take his own way. The Jews, in their Midrash, Jarchi, and others, interpret it, allegorically, of the good and evil imagination in men, the principle of grace, and the corruption of nature; the one is the new man, the other the old man; the new man is better than old Adam: the Targum applies it to Abraham and Nimrod; the former is the poor and wise child, that feared God, and worshipped him early; the latter, the old and foolish king, who was an idolater, and refused to be admonished of his idolatry; and so the Midrash. (d) "non novit moneri adhuc", Montanus; "nescit admoneri amplius", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Rambachius.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (12 words)

H2896 טוֹב
Definition:

Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the Fromtowb; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the

Possible Meanings:
  • good things (semantic_range)
  • goods (semantic_range)
  • goodness (semantic_range)
H3206 יֶלֶד
Definition:

8child, son, boy, youth; —יֶּ֫לֶדabsoluteGenesis 4:23+; constructJeremiah 31:20;יָ֫לֶדGenesis 21:16+; pluralיְלָדִיםGenesis 33:1+; constructיַלְדֵיExodus 2:62t.;יִלְדֵיֿIsaiah 57:4; suffixיְלָדַיGenes 8child, son, boy, youth; —יֶּ֫לֶדabsoluteGenesis 4:23+; constructJeremiah 31:20;יָ֫לֶדGenesis 21:16+; pluralיְלָדִיםGenesis 33:1+; constructיַלְדֵיExodus 2:62t.;יִלְדֵיֿIsaiah 57:4; suffixיְלָדַיGenes

H4542 מִסְכֵּן
Definition:

—וְחָכָם׳יֶלֶד מEcclesiastes 4:13(opposed toמֶלֶח זֶקֵן וּכְסִיל);חָכָם׳אִישׁ מEcclesiastes 9:15,׳הָאִישׁ הַמּEcclesiastes 9:15; as substantive׳הַמּEcclesiastes 9:16the poor man.Topical LexiconScriptu —וְחָכָם׳יֶלֶד מEcclesiastes 4:13(opposed toמֶלֶח זֶקֵן וּכְסִיל);חָכָם׳אִישׁ מEcclesiastes 9:15,׳הָאִישׁ הַמּEcclesiastes 9:15; as substantive׳הַמּEcclesiastes 9:16the poor man.Topical LexiconScriptu

H2450 חָכָם
Definition:

667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ 667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ

Possible Meanings:
  • wise (semantic_range)
  • skilful (semantic_range)
  • wise in the administration of affairs (semantic_range)
  • shrewd (semantic_range)
  • crafty (semantic_range)
H4428 מֶלֶךְ
Definition:

4המלכן; Phoenicianמלך; ZinjirliמלךDHMSendsch. 60; Assyrianmaliku,malku,prince(Assyrianšarru=king); Arabicking(original Hebrew *מַלִחinferred, LagBN 73BaNB § 112WMMAs. u. Europ.76); SabeanמלכןSabDenkmN 4המלכן; Phoenicianמלך; ZinjirliמלךDHMSendsch. 60; Assyrianmaliku,malku,prince(Assyrianšarru=king); Arabicking(original Hebrew *מַלִחinferred, LagBN 73BaNB § 112WMMAs. u. Europ.76); SabeanמלכןSabDenkmN

Possible Meanings:
  • counsel (semantic_range)
  • advice (semantic_range)
H2205 זָקֵן
Definition:

430t. (on distinction from verb see above); constructזְקַןGenesis 24:2; pluralזְקֵנִיםGenesis 18:1144t.;זְקֵנוֺתZechariah 8:4; constructזִקְנֵיGenesis 50:785t.; suffixזְקֵנַיLamentations 1:19,זְקֵנֶיך 430t. (on distinction from verb see above); constructזְקַןGenesis 24:2; pluralזְקֵנִיםGenesis 18:1144t.;זְקֵנוֺתZechariah 8:4; constructזִקְנֵיGenesis 50:785t.; suffixזְקֵנַיLamentations 1:19,זְקֵנֶיך

Possible Meanings:
  • old age (semantic_range)
H3684 כְּסִיל
Definition:

1144t.; pluralכְּסִילִיםPsalm 94:825t.; — ""בערPsalm 49:11;Psalm 92:7;Psalm 94:8, elsewhere only in Wisd Lt.; he hates knowledgeProverbs 1:22; delights not in understandingProverbs 18:2; it is his spo 1144t.; pluralכְּסִילִיםPsalm 94:825t.; — ""בערPsalm 49:11;Psalm 92:7;Psalm 94:8, elsewhere only in Wisd Lt.; he hates knowledgeProverbs 1:22; delights not in understandingProverbs 18:2; it is his spo

Possible Meanings:
  • Orion (semantic_range)
H0834 אֲשֶׁר
Definition:

1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff 1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff

Possible Meanings:
  • Asher (semantic_range)
  • happy one (semantic_range)
  • Felix (semantic_range)
  • the tribe (semantic_range)
H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H3045 יָדַע
Definition:

1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene 1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene

Possible Meanings:
  • know (semantic_range)
  • know (semantic_range)
  • cause to know (semantic_range)
  • inform (semantic_range)
H2094 זָהַר
Definition:

A primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution) -- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing).Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [זָהַר]verbbe light, shining(Arabicshine, adjectivebright(compare A primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution) -- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing).Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [זָהַר]verbbe light, shining(Arabicshine, adjectivebright(compare

Possible Meanings:
  • warned (semantic_range)
H5750 עוֹד
Definition:

FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö FrMM 256)עֹד,substantivea going round, continuance, but used mostly asadverb accusativestill, yet, again, besides: with suffixעוֺדֶנִּי(with apparently verbal form, like׃אֵינֶנִּיOl§ 222 gSta§ 352 bKö

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