Ecclesiastes 4:14
"For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

For out of prison he cometh to reign,.... That is, this is sometimes the case of a poor and wise child; he rises out of a low, mean, abject, obscure state and condition, to the highest dignity; from a prison house, or a place where servants are, to sit among princes, and even to have the supreme authority: so Joseph, to whose case Solomon is thought to have respect, and which is mentioned in the Midrash; who was but a young man, and poor and friendless, but wise;

and was even laid in prison, though innocent and guiltless, from whence he was fetched, and became the second man in the kingdom of Egypt; so David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, was taken from the sheepfold, and set upon the throne of Israel: though Gussetius (e) interprets this of the old and foolish king, who comes out of the house or family, of degenerate persons, as he translates the word, with a degenerate genius to rule; the allusion being to a degenerate vine; which sense agrees with Ecc 4:13 , and with what follows; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor; who is born of royal parents, born to a kingdom; is by birth heir to one, has it by inheritance, and has long possessed it; and yet, by his own misconduct, or by the rebellion of his subjects, he is dethroned and banished; or by a foreign power is taken and carried captive, and reduced to the utmost poverty, as Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and others: or if born poor, so Gussetius; with a poor genius, not capable of ruling, and so loses his kingdom, and comes to poverty. Or it may be rendered, "although in his kingdom he is born poor" (f); that is, though the poor and wise child is born poor in the kingdom of the old and foolish king; yet, out of this low estate, in which he is by birth, he comes and enjoys the kingdom in his room to such a strange turn of affairs are the highest honours subject: or, "for in his kingdom he is born poor" (g); even the person that is born heir to a crown is born a poor man; he comes as naked out of his mother's womb as the poorest man does; the conditions of both are equal as to birth; and therefore it need not seem strange that one out of prison should come to a kingdom. But the first sense seems best. (e) Ebr. Comment. p. 553. (f) "quamvis etiam", Gejerus. (g) "Nam etiam", Tigurine version, Cocceius; "quia etiam", Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt, Rambachius, so Aben Ezra.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (10 words)

H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H1004 בּיִת
Definition:

12house(Phoenicianבת, MIבת, suffixביתה, Arabic, Aramaicבַּיְתָא,Assyrianbîtu, COTGloss, Sabeanבית,בת,fortressDHMZMG 1883, 387;templeHal257DHMZMG 1876, 697, EthiopicPalmyrene inבת עלמא,בת מקברתאsepulch 12house(Phoenicianבת, MIבת, suffixביתה, Arabic, Aramaicבַּיְתָא,Assyrianbîtu, COTGloss, Sabeanבית,בת,fortressDHMZMG 1883, 387;templeHal257DHMZMG 1876, 697, EthiopicPalmyrene inבת עלמא,בת מקברתאsepulch

Possible Meanings:
  • lodge (semantic_range)
  • pass the night (semantic_range)
H0631 אָסַר
Definition:

13; 3feminine singularאָֽסְרָהNumbers 30:5+, etc.;Imperfectיֶאְסֹר1 Kings 20:14;וַיֶּאֱסֹרGenesis 42:24;וַיֶּאְסֹרGenesis 46:29+; plural suffixיַאַסְרֻנִיJudges 16:7etc.;Imperativeאֱסֹר1 Kings 18:44;2 13; 3feminine singularאָֽסְרָהNumbers 30:5+, etc.;Imperfectיֶאְסֹר1 Kings 20:14;וַיֶּאֱסֹרGenesis 42:24;וַיֶּאְסֹרGenesis 46:29+; plural suffixיַאַסְרֻנִיJudges 16:7etc.;Imperativeאֱסֹר1 Kings 18:44;2

Possible Meanings:
  • interdict (semantic_range)
  • binding (semantic_range)
H3318 יָצָא
Definition:

1192t.; 3 feminine singularיָָֽצְאָהNumbers 16:3513t.;יָצָ֑אָהIsaiah 28:29; 2masculine singularיָצָאתָGenesis 24:57t.; 2 feminine singularוְיָצָאתJeremiah 31:4; 2masculine pluralיְצָאתֶםExodus 13:3;De 1192t.; 3 feminine singularיָָֽצְאָהNumbers 16:3513t.;יָצָ֑אָהIsaiah 28:29; 2masculine singularיָצָאתָGenesis 24:57t.; 2 feminine singularוְיָצָאתJeremiah 31:4; 2masculine pluralיְצָאתֶםExodus 13:3;De

Possible Meanings:
  • go (semantic_range)
  • come out (semantic_range)
  • go (semantic_range)
  • come out (semantic_range)
  • forth (semantic_range)
H4427 מָלַךְ
Definition:

A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel -- consult, X indeed, be (make, set a, set up) king, be (make A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel -- consult, X indeed, be (make, set a, set up) king, be (make

Possible Meanings:
  • advice (semantic_range)
H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H1571 גַּם
Definition:

6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ 6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ

Possible Meanings:
  • moreover (semantic_range)
  • yea (semantic_range)
H4438 מַלְכוּת
Definition:

9+; construct1 Chronicles 12:23+; suffixמַלְכוּתִי1 Chronicles 17:14, etc.; pluralמַלְכֻיּוֺתDaniel 8:22; —1royal power, dominionNumbers 24:7(withתִּנַשֵּׂא),1 Samuel 20:31(withתִּכּוֺן),1 Kings 2:12( 9+; construct1 Chronicles 12:23+; suffixמַלְכוּתִי1 Chronicles 17:14, etc.; pluralמַלְכֻיּוֺתDaniel 8:22; —1royal power, dominionNumbers 24:7(withתִּנַשֵּׂא),1 Samuel 20:31(withתִּכּוֺן),1 Kings 2:12(

Possible Meanings:
  • royalty (semantic_range)
  • reign (semantic_range)
  • kingdom (semantic_range)
H3205 יָלַד
Definition:

18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4) 18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4)

Possible Meanings:
  • child (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • boy (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
H7326 רוּשׁ
Definition:

11young lions are in want and hunger; elsewhereParticipleרָשׁ1 Samuel 18:2316t.,רָאשׁ2 Samuel 12:12t.; pluralרָשִׁיםProverbs 22:7,רָאשִׁיםProverbs 13:23; — (often opposed toעָשִׁיר): as adjective1 Sam 11young lions are in want and hunger; elsewhereParticipleרָשׁ1 Samuel 18:2316t.,רָאשׁ2 Samuel 12:12t.; pluralרָשִׁיםProverbs 22:7,רָאשִׁיםProverbs 13:23; — (often opposed toעָשִׁיר): as adjective1 Sam

Possible Meanings:
  • be in want (semantic_range)
  • poor (semantic_range)
  • one impoverishing himself (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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