Ecclesiastes 4:8 KJV - Bible Verse

Ecclesiastes 4:8

"There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

There is one alone, and there is not a second,.... According to Aben Ezra, either no friend or companion, or no servant, or no wife, which last sense he prefers; no friend or companion he chooses, because friendship and fellowship lead to expenses; and no servant who would be chargeable to him; and no wife, which would be more expensive, and bring on a family of children; wherefore, to save charges, he chooses to have neither of these; for this is a covetous man who is here desert bed; yea, he hath neither child nor brother; to inherit his substance, as the Targum adds; some

worldly men, whose bellies are filled with hidden treasures, having enjoyed much, when they die, leave the rest of their substance to their babes; but the man here described has no children, nor any relations to leave his wealth unto; yet is there no end of all his labour; when he has executed one scheme to get riches, he forms another; and having finished one work, he enters upon another; he rises early and sits up late, and works and toils night and day, as if he was not worth a dollar, and had a large and numerous family to provide for; or there is no end of what he labours for, or gets by his labour; there is no end of his treasures, Isa 2:7 ; he is immensely rich, so Aben Ezra interprets it; neither is his eye satisfied with riches: with seeing his bags of gold and silver, though he takes a great deal of sure in looking upon them too, without making use of them; yet he is not satisfied with what he has, he wants more, he enlarges his desire as hell, and like the grave never has enough; see Ecc 5:10 ; neither saith he, for whom do I labour? having neither wife nor child, nor relation, nor friend, and yet so wretchedly stupid and thoughtless as never once to put this question to himself, Who am I toiling for? I am heaping up riches, and know not who shall gather them; it is a vexation to a worldly man to leave his substance behind him, and even to a man that has an heir to inherit it, when he knows not whether he will be a wise man or a fool; but for a man that has no heir at all, and yet to be toiling and labouring for the world, is gross stupidity, downright madness, and especially when he deprives himself of the comfort of what he is possessed of; and bereave my soul of good? instead of richly enjoying what is given him, he withholds it from himself, starves his back and belly, lives in pinching want amidst the greatest plenty; has not power to eat of what he has, and his soul desireth; see Ecc 6:2 . This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail; a very vain and wicked thing; "an evil business", as it may be rendered; a very great sin and folly indeed; it is thought by some divines to be the worst species of covetousness, most cruel and unnatural.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (31 words)

H3426 יֵשׁ

Definition:

24etc.;יֶשֿׁGenesis 31:29+ often;הֲיֵשׁGenesis 24:2318t. (soאִשׁ2 Samuel 14:19,הַאִשׁMicah 6:10), with suffixיֶשְׁךָGenesis 24:422t.;יֶשְׁכֶםGenesis 24:49;הֲיִשְׁכֶםDeuteronomy 13:4;יֶשְׁנוֺ(Ol§ 97 bS 24etc.;יֶשֿׁGenesis 31:29+ often;הֲיֵשׁGenesis 24:2318t. (soאִשׁ2 Samuel 14:19,הַאִשׁMicah 6:10), with suffixיֶשְׁךָGenesis 24:422t.;יֶשְׁכֶםGenesis 24:49;הֲיִשְׁכֶםDeuteronomy 13:4;יֶשְׁנוֺ(Ol§ 97 bS

Possible Meanings:

being (semantic_range)
substance (semantic_range)
existence (semantic_range)
substance (semantic_range)
existence (semantic_range)

H0259 אֶחָד

Definition:

5#NAME?אַחַ֫דGenesis 21:15+; so even before preposition1 Samuel 9:3and elsewhere see Dr; feminine absoluteאַחַ֫תGenesis 2:21+;אֶחָ֑תGenesis 11:1+; constructאַחַ֫תDeuteronomy 13:13+; plural masculineאֲ 5#NAME?אַחַ֫דGenesis 21:15+; so even before preposition1 Samuel 9:3and elsewhere see Dr; feminine absoluteאַחַ֫תGenesis 2:21+;אֶחָ֑תGenesis 11:1+; constructאַחַ֫תDeuteronomy 13:13+; plural masculineאֲ

Possible Meanings:

one (semantic_range)
one (semantic_range)
each (semantic_range)
every (semantic_range)
a certain (semantic_range)

H0369 אַיִן

Definition:

23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr 23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr

Possible Meanings:

nought (semantic_range)
is not (semantic_range)

H8145 שֵׁנִי

Definition:

13+, etc. (שֵׁנִי82t. +Nehemiah 3:30, readשֵׁנִית; readוְהַשֵּׁנִיalso1 Chronicles 6:13forושני);בַּשָּׁנָההַשֵּׁנִיתGenesis 47:18+, etc. (שֵׁנִית72t. +Nehemiah 3:30see above),׳שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שׁLeviti 13+, etc. (שֵׁנִי82t. +Nehemiah 3:30, readשֵׁנִית; readוְהַשֵּׁנִיalso1 Chronicles 6:13forושני);בַּשָּׁנָההַשֵּׁנִיתGenesis 47:18+, etc. (שֵׁנִית72t. +Nehemiah 3:30see above),׳שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שׁLeviti

Possible Meanings:

second (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)

H1121 בֵּן

Definition:

25+;ֵבּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵבּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:

son (semantic_range)
son (semantic_range)
children (semantic_range)
youth (semantic_range)
young men (semantic_range)

H0251 אָח

Definition:

29+ (Ezekiel 18:10 strike out Co compareᵐ5ᵑ6ᵑ9; Ew Smאַח; Dl BaEz xdefends as =onecompare Assyriana—u) never with article; cstrאֲחִיGenesis 10:21+; suffixאָחִיGenesis 4:9+;אָחִיךָGenesis 4:9+;אָחִיוGe 29+ (Ezekiel 18:10 strike out Co compareᵐ5ᵑ6ᵑ9; Ew Smאַח; Dl BaEz xdefends as =onecompare Assyriana—u) never with article; cstrאֲחִיGenesis 10:21+; suffixאָחִיGenesis 4:9+;אָחִיךָGenesis 4:9+;אָחִיוGe

Possible Meanings:

brother (semantic_range)

H0369 אַיִן

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

nought (semantic_range)
is not (semantic_range)

H0369 אַיִן

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

nought (semantic_range)
is not (semantic_range)

H7093 קֵץ

Definition:

6end—׳קabsoluteAmos 8:2+, constructGenesis 4:3+,עֶתֿDaniel 8:17; suffixקִצּוֺIsaiah 37:24+,קִצּהֹ""2 Kings 19:23, etc.;-1end, usually of time, especially in phraseמִקֵּץat the end ofa definite timeGen 6end—׳קabsoluteAmos 8:2+, constructGenesis 4:3+,עֶתֿDaniel 8:17; suffixקִצּוֺIsaiah 37:24+,קִצּהֹ""2 Kings 19:23, etc.;-1end, usually of time, especially in phraseמִקֵּץat the end ofa definite timeGen

H3605 כֹּל

Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H5999 עָמָל

Definition:

8feminineEcclesiastes 10:15(against AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 113, see KöSynt. § 249 m)trouble, labour, toil(on this form as abstract see LagBN 143BaNB 105); —׳עNumbers 23:21+; constructעֲמַלJudges 10:16+; 8feminineEcclesiastes 10:15(against AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 113, see KöSynt. § 249 m)trouble, labour, toil(on this form as abstract see LagBN 143BaNB 105); —׳עNumbers 23:21+; constructעֲמַלJudges 10:16+;

Possible Meanings:

toiling (semantic_range)

H1571 גַּם

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

moreover (semantic_range)
yea (semantic_range)

H5869 עַיִן

Definition:

9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph 9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph

H5869 עַיִן

Definition:

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,

H7646 שָׂבַע

Definition:

); —Qal79Perfect3masculine singularשָׂבַע1 Chronicles 23:1,׳וְשׂconsecutiveDeuteronomy 31:20; 3pluralשָׂבֵ֑עוּIsaiah 9:19,׳ושׂconsecutiveDeuteronomy 14:29;Deuteronomy 26:12, etc.;Imperfect3masculine s ); —Qal79Perfect3masculine singularשָׂבַע1 Chronicles 23:1,׳וְשׂconsecutiveDeuteronomy 31:20; 3pluralשָׂבֵ֑עוּIsaiah 9:19,׳ושׂconsecutiveDeuteronomy 14:29;Deuteronomy 26:12, etc.;Imperfect3masculine s

Possible Meanings:

seven (semantic_range)

H6239 עשֶׁר

Definition:

25riches; —׳עabsoluteGenesis 31:627t. constructEsther 1:4; suffixעָשְׁרוֺJeremiah 9:225t.,עָשְׁרָםPsalm 49:7;Proverbs 14:24; + (or "")כָּבוֺד1Kings 3:13;Proverbs 3:169t.;׳עָשָׂה עJeremiah 17:11, compa 25riches; —׳עabsoluteGenesis 31:627t. constructEsther 1:4; suffixעָשְׁרוֺJeremiah 9:225t.,עָשְׁרָםPsalm 49:7;Proverbs 14:24; + (or "")כָּבוֺד1Kings 3:13;Proverbs 3:169t.;׳עָשָׂה עJeremiah 17:11, compa

Possible Meanings:

a ten (semantic_range)

H4310 מִי

Definition:

WSG 123 f.): —who ?(τίς;quis ?)Genesis 3:11הִגִּיד לְךָ מִיwho told thee ?Genesis 24:65מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶהwhois this man ?Genesis 27:18מי אתה בניwhoart thou, my son ?Numbers 22:9;Judges 1:1;Judges 6: WSG 123 f.): —who ?(τίς;quis ?)Genesis 3:11הִגִּיד לְךָ מִיwho told thee ?Genesis 24:65מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶהwhois this man ?Genesis 27:18מי אתה בניwhoart thou, my son ?Numbers 22:9;Judges 1:1;Judges 6:

Possible Meanings:

who? (semantic_range)
whose (semantic_range)
who among (semantic_range)
whose (semantic_range)
whosoever (semantic_range)

H0589 אֲנַי

Definition:

17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham 17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham

Possible Meanings:

ships (semantic_range)
fleet (semantic_range)

H6001 עָמֵל

Definition:

Fromamal; toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful -- that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman.see HEBREWamalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.עָמֵלnoun masculineProverb Fromamal; toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful -- that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman.see HEBREWamalBrown-Driver-BriggsI.עָמֵלnoun masculineProverb

H2637 חָסֵר

Definition:

16; 2masculine singularחָסַרְתָּDeuteronomy 2:7; 3pluralחָסֵ֑רוּNehemiah 9:21; 1pluralחָסַרְנוּJeremiah 44:18;ImperfectיֶחְסַרDeuteronomy 15:82t.;יֶחְסָ֑רProverbs 31:11;Ecclesiastes 9:8; 3feminine sin 16; 2masculine singularחָסַרְתָּDeuteronomy 2:7; 3pluralחָסֵ֑רוּNehemiah 9:21; 1pluralחָסַרְנוּJeremiah 44:18;ImperfectיֶחְסַרDeuteronomy 15:82t.;יֶחְסָ֑רProverbs 31:11;Ecclesiastes 9:8; 3feminine sin

Possible Meanings:

lacking (semantic_range)
wanting (semantic_range)
deficient (semantic_range)

H0853 אֵת

Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, onceאוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, onceאוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:

sign (semantic_range)

H5315 נֶפֶשׁ

Definition:

6(so evenGenesis 2:19;Numbers 31:28;1 Kings 19:2see AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 42SS)soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion(Ecclus 3:18; 4:1 (twice in verse); Ecclesias 6(so evenGenesis 2:19;Numbers 31:28;1 Kings 19:2see AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 42SS)soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion(Ecclus 3:18; 4:1 (twice in verse); Ecclesias

Possible Meanings:

take breath (semantic_range)
refresh oneself (semantic_range)
take breath (semantic_range)
refresh oneself (semantic_range)

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)

H1571 גַּם

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

moreover (semantic_range)
yea (semantic_range)

H2088 זֶה

Definition:

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The demonstrative fixes Eve’s identity as God’s specific gift to Adam.• Covenant Signs: “This is the sign of the covenant I am maki “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The demonstrative fixes Eve’s identity as God’s specific gift to Adam.• Covenant Signs: “This is the sign of the covenant I am maki

H1892 הֶבֶל

Definition:

2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ 2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ

Possible Meanings:

act emptily (semantic_range)
become vain (semantic_range)
became vain (semantic_range)
cause to become vain (semantic_range)

H6045 עִנְיָן

Definition:

13occupation, task, only Ecclesiastes (Aramaic loan-word LagBN 205; common in Late Hebrew); —׳עabsoluteEcclesiastes 2:26;Ecclesiastes 3:10;Ecclesiastes 5:2;Ecclesiastes 8:16; suffixכַּעַס עִנְיָנוֺEcc 13occupation, task, only Ecclesiastes (Aramaic loan-word LagBN 205; common in Late Hebrew); —׳עabsoluteEcclesiastes 2:26;Ecclesiastes 3:10;Ecclesiastes 5:2;Ecclesiastes 8:16; suffixכַּעַס עִנְיָנוֺEcc

H7451 רַע

Definition:

Fromra'a'; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) -- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm Fromra'a'; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) -- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm

Possible Meanings:

misery (semantic_range)
injury (semantic_range)

H1931 הוּא

Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

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