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ParallelVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR L JER G DAN SUS PR AZ BEL G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV

ParallelVerse Ecc Intro C1 C2 C3 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12

Ecc 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16

Parallel ECC 4:0

B I ◄ ↨ Ecc 4:0 ↓ → ► ©  

UHB  ‡

HAP Hebrew accents and phrasing: See Allan Johnson's Hebrew accents and phrasing analysis.
UTN uW Translation Notes:

Ecclesiastes 4 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

The Teacher moves from observing oppression (vv. 1-3), to reflecting on envy-driven labor and proverbial sayings about contentment (vv. 4-6), the advantages of companionship (vv. 7-12), and a parable about a poor but wise youth replacing an old foolish king (vv. 13-16).

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Vapor as Futility

The Hebrew word hevel (“vapor”) recurs as a thematic refrain (vv. 4, 7-8, 16), declaring human achievements fleeting. The paired phrase “pursuit of wind” intensifies this assessment.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Ambiguous Pronoun References

In the parable of the youth and the king (vv. 13-16), Hebrew pronouns shift referents without explicit markers. Translators may need to clarify whether “he” refers to the youth or the king.

B I ◄ ↨ Ecc 4:0 ↑ → ► ©