传道书 4:3 RCUVSS

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

Solomon had a large soul (1 Kgs. 4:29) and it appeared by this, among other things, that he had a very tender concern for the miserable part of mankind and took cognizance of the afflictions of the afflicted. He had taken the oppressors to task (Eccl. 3:16, 17) and put them in mind of the judgment to come, to be a curb to their insolence; now here he observes the oppressed. This he did, no doubt, as a prince, to do them justice and avenge them of their adversaries, for he both feared God and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Yea, better is he than both they which hath not yet been ,.... That is, an unborn person; who is preferred both to the dead that have seen oppression, and to the living that are under it; see Job 3:10 . This supposes a person to be that never was, a mere nonentity; and the judgment made is according to sense, and regards the dead purely as such, and so as free from evils and sorrows, without any respect to their future state and condition; for otherwise an unborn person is not happier... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Which hath not yet been - Better never to have been born into the world, than to have seen and suffered so many miseries. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

First of all, he adduces the oppression of man by his fellow-man. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Section 5. Koheleth proceeds to give further illustrations of man ' s inability to be the architect of his own happiness . There are many things which interrupt or destroy it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been. Thus we have Job's passionate appeal ( Job 3:11 ), "Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came forth," etc.? And in the Greek poets the sentiment of the text is re-echoed. Thus Theognis, 'Paroen.,' 425— πάντων μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον ΄ηδ ἐσιδεῖν αὐγὰς ὀξέος ἠελίου φύντα δ ὅπως ὤκιστα πύλας ἀΐ́δαο περῆσαι καὶ κεῖσθαι πολλὴν γῆν ἐπαμησάμενον ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 4:2-3

Ecclesiastes 4:2-3. Wherefore I praised the dead, &c. I judged them less miserable. For this is certain, that setting aside the future life, which Solomon doth not meddle with in the present debate, and considering the uncertainty, and vanity, and manifold calamities of the present life, a wise man would not account it worth his while to live. Yea, better is he than both they “Much more desirable than either of these is it not to have come into the world at all; and so to have had no... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

Injustice in the world (3:16-4:3)Having acknowledged God’s order in human events, the writer now observes that the ‘order’ is, at times, not very orderly. For example, injustice abounds (16). Maybe, thinks the writer, God will put everything right in a judgment day in the afterlife (17). On the other hand, thinks he, there may not be an afterlife. He observes that people die the same as animals, as if God is trying to show that they are no different from the beasts. Also, he asks, can it be... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 4:3

better. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:24 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Ecclesiastes 4:3. Yea, better is he than both they— Nay, I say, he is happier than either, who is not yet come to life, who hath not seen the misery that prevaileth under the sun. Desvoeux. Ecclesiastes 4:4. Again, I considered all travail— I observed again all the labour, nay, all the most successful work, that for this, &c. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 4:2-3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 4:3

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:3

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