Ecclesiastes 4:8
Parallel Strong's
Berean Study Bible
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile— a miserable task.

Young's Literal Translation
There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], ‘For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?’ This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

King James Bible
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.

Hebrew
There is
יֵ֣שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

a
אֶחָד֩ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

man all alone,
וְאֵ֨ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

without
אֵֽין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

even
גַּ֣ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

a son
בֵּ֧ן (bên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

or brother.
וָאָ֣ח (wā·’āḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

And though there is no
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

end
קֵץ֙ (qêṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7093: An extremity, after

to his labor,
עֲמָל֔וֹ (‘ă·mā·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5999: Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind

his eyes
עֵינ֖וֹ (‘ê·nōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

are still
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

content
תִשְׂבַּ֣ע (ṯiś·ba‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

with his wealth:
עֹ֑שֶׁר (‘ō·šer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6239: Wealth

“For whom
וּלְמִ֣י ׀ (ū·lə·mî)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

do I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

toil
עָמֵ֗ל (‘ā·mêl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6001: Toiling, a laborer, sorrowful

and bereave
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר (ū·mə·ḥas·sêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2637: To lack, need, be lacking, decrease

my soul
נַפְשִׁי֙ (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of enjoyment?”
מִטּוֹבָ֔ה (miṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

This
זֶ֥ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

too
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

is futile�
הֶ֛בֶל (he·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

a miserable
רָ֖ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

task.
וְעִנְיַ֥ן (wə·‘in·yan)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6045: Ado, employment, an affair

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
BibleApps.com


Ecclesiastes 4:7
Top of Page
Top of Page