伝道者の書 4:2 JCB

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:2

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Solomon was not singular in this opinion: a voice from heaven proclaimed the same, Revelation 14:13 . But, Reader! it is blessed to live, or die; provided we live, or die, in the Lord. Paul's situation was the desirable one: Philippians 1:21 . read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right. Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and misery of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and to each other. Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to hate and despise life. But a good man, though badly off while in this world, cannot have cause to wish he had never been born, since he is glorifying the Lord, even in the fires, and will be happy at last, for ever happy. Ungodly men have most cause to... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Ecclesiastes 4:1-6

Personal Misfortunes v. 1. So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, turning his reflections from the vanity of human life to the violence practiced by many men; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter, no one to dry their tears by healing their injuries; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, that being the way of tyrants everywhere, but they had no comforter, the repetition of this phrase emphasizing the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

B. The Impediments to Earthly Happiness, proceeding partly from personal misfortune of various kinds, and partly from the evils of social and civil lifeEcclesiastes 4:1-16.1. The personal misfortune of many men(Ecclesiastes 4:1-6)1So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2Wherefore I praised the dead which... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

From this general survey the preacher returned to examine the condition of the beings whom he had described as being no better than the beasts. He looked out upon them, and saw them in suffering, and concluded that death or nonexistence is preferable to life. He declared, moreover, that toil is nothing worth, as it produces envy and striving. This leads him further to declare the vanity of success under such conditions. The wealthy man stands alone, and in his loneliness is more helpless than... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

The Dreadfulness of Oppression (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 ). Having been faced up to the injustice in the world, and especially the injustice in its courts of justice, the Preacher now turns to consider oppression in general and is dismayed at the unfairness of it all. Ecclesiastes 4:1 ‘Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Chapter 4 The Dreadfulness of Oppression. Guidance on Living. This chapter begins with considering the dreadfulness of oppression and then continues with thoughts on living, giving both good and bad examples. At this point the fact that he is ‘a wise man’ comes out. It finishes with a parable or illustration about wisdom and folly. read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Ecclesiastes 4. A Gloomy Survey.— The chapter falls into four parts, which treat respectively of oppression ( Ecclesiastes 4:1-Leviticus :), rivalry ( Ecclesiastes 4:4-Joshua :), isolation amounting to self-torture ( Ecclesiastes 4:7-2 Kings :), and a paragraph on a young king’ s popularity ( Ecclesiastes 4:13-Nehemiah :). Ecclesiastes 4:1. Man’ s inhumanity to man awakens Qoheleth’ s compassion; they had no comforter must refer in both cases to the oppressed; the words are repeated for the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:2

I praised; I judged them more happy, or less miserable; which he seems to deliver not only as the judgment of the flesh, or of the sense, or of men in misery, as this is commonly understood, but as his own judgment. For this is most true and certain, that setting aside the advantage which this life gives him for the concerns of the future life, which Solomon doth not meddle with in the present debate, and considering the uncertainty, and vanity, and manifold vexations of mind, and outward... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

CRITICAL NOTES.—Ecclesiastes 4:1. So I returned.] Passing from the reflections of the last chapter to a new subject of contemplation. They had no comforter. The repetition of this phrase is intended to make the thought emphatic. Ecclesiastes 4:4. Every right work.] Every work marked by excellence and skill. But the writer has chiefly in view that successful work which excites the envy of others. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Ecclesiastes 4:1-3THE TYRANNY OF FORCE AGAINST RIGHTI. Such... read more