Ecclesiastes 6:8
"For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

For what hath the wise more than the fool,.... More delight and pleasure, in gratifying his senses, by eating and drinking: the wise man enjoys no more than the fool; the fool finds as much pleasure in the labour of

his hands, which is for his mouth, as the wise man does; and the wise man can get no more satisfaction to his mind, from these outward gratifications, than the fool; what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? either, what does the poor man want more than the rich man, that knows how to get his bread, and is diligent and industrious among men to live, and does get a livelihood for himself and family; he enjoys all the sweets and comforts of life, as well as the rich man: or what hath the poor knowing man? as Aben Ezra interprets it, according to the accents; what has he more or does he enjoy more, than the poor foolish man, provided he has but sense enough to behave himself among men, so as to have bread to eat, and clothes to wear; which is as much as any man can enjoy, be he ever so rich or so wise?

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (12 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)
H4100 מָה
Definition:

43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th 43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th

Possible Meanings:
  • what? (semantic_range)
H3148 יוֹתֵר
Definition:

162t.;יֹתֵרEcclesiastes 2:154t.; —superiority, advantageמַהיּֿוֺתֵר לֶחָכָם מִןהַֿכְּסִילEcclesiastes 6:8what advantage hath the wise over the fool? probably alsoיֹתֵר מֵהֵמָּהEcclesiastes 12:12(as to 162t.;יֹתֵרEcclesiastes 2:154t.; —superiority, advantageמַהיּֿוֺתֵר לֶחָכָם מִןהַֿכְּסִילEcclesiastes 6:8what advantage hath the wise over the fool? probably alsoיֹתֵר מֵהֵמָּהEcclesiastes 12:12(as to

Possible Meanings:
  • excess (semantic_range)
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)
H4480 מִן
Definition:

2; 2Chronicles 20:11) contracted toמִי(asמִידֵיfromמִיְּדֵי), before guttural andר, mostlyמֵ, occasionallyמִ(Ges§ 102, l R.; more fully Köii. 291ff),מִןbefore article in all books much commoner than - 2; 2Chronicles 20:11) contracted toמִי(asמִידֵיfromמִיְּדֵי), before guttural andר, mostlyמֵ, occasionallyמִ(Ges§ 102, l R.; more fully Köii. 291ff),מִןbefore article in all books much commoner than -

Possible Meanings:
  • out of (semantic_range)
  • by (semantic_range)
  • by reason of (semantic_range)
  • at (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)
H4100 מָה
Definition:

43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th 43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th

Possible Meanings:
  • what? (semantic_range)
H6041 עָנִי
Definition:

1251t.; pluralעֲיִּיםIsaiah 3:156t.; constructעֲנִיֵּיIsaiah 10:24t. (see also Kt and Qr belowעָנָוabove); suffixעֲנִיֶּיךָPsalm 72:2;Psalm 74:19,עֲנִיֶּ֑ךָDeuteronomy 15:11,עֲנִיָּוIsaiah 49:13; femi 1251t.; pluralעֲיִּיםIsaiah 3:156t.; constructעֲנִיֵּיIsaiah 10:24t. (see also Kt and Qr belowעָנָוabove); suffixעֲנִיֶּיךָPsalm 72:2;Psalm 74:19,עֲנִיֶּ֑ךָDeuteronomy 15:11,עֲנִיָּוIsaiah 49:13; femi

Possible Meanings:
  • poor (semantic_range)
  • needy (semantic_range)
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)
H1980 הָלַךְ
Definition:

26+;הָלָ֑ךְ2 Samuel 8:6+; 3 pluralהָֽלְכוּGenesis 14:24+;(הֶ)הָֽלְכוּאJoshua 10:24(Ges§ 23, 3; 138, 3 b Köi. 414 f.), etc.;Imperfectrarelya.3masculine singularיִהֲלֹךְJeremiah 9:34t. Job, Psalms;וַיַּ 26+;הָלָ֑ךְ2 Samuel 8:6+; 3 pluralהָֽלְכוּGenesis 14:24+;(הֶ)הָֽלְכוּאJoshua 10:24(Ges§ 23, 3; 138, 3 b Köi. 414 f.), etc.;Imperfectrarelya.3masculine singularיִהֲלֹךְJeremiah 9:34t. Job, Psalms;וַיַּ

Possible Meanings:
  • toll (semantic_range)
H5048 נֶגֶד
Definition:

11+,נֶגְדְּךָPsalm 38:10+, etc.; withהlocativeנֶ֫גְדָּהPsalm 116:14;Psalm 116:18; —1as adverb accusativein front of,a.locally(rather stronger and distincter thanלִפְנֵי), (a)Genesis 31:32נֶגֶד אַחֵינו 11+,נֶגְדְּךָPsalm 38:10+, etc.; withהlocativeנֶ֫גְדָּהPsalm 116:14;Psalm 116:18; —1as adverb accusativein front of,a.locally(rather stronger and distincter thanלִפְנֵי), (a)Genesis 31:32נֶגֶד אַחֵינו

Possible Meanings:
  • facing (semantic_range)
H2416 חַי
Definition:

Fromchayah; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figurat Fromchayah; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figurat

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