Ecclesiastes 4:3-4 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, Eccl. 2:11. I. If a man be acute, and dexterous, and successful in his business, he gets the ill-will of his neighbours, Eccl. 4:4. Though he takes a great deal of pains, and goes through all travail, does not get his estate easily, but it costs him a great deal of hard labour, nor does he get it dishonestly, he wrongs no man,... 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

John Gill

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

Again I considered all travail, and every right work ,.... The pains that men take to do right works. Some apply themselves, with great diligence and industry, to the study of the liberal arts and sciences; and to attain the knowledge of languages; and to writing books, for the improvement of those things, and the good of mankind: and others employ themselves in mechanic arts, and excel in them, and bring their works to great perfection and accuracy; when they might expect to be praised and... 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

Adam Clarke

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

For this a man is envied - It is not by injustice and wrong only that men suffer, but through envy also. For if a man act uprightly and properly in the world, he soon becomes the object of his neighbor's envy and calumny too. Therefore the encouragement to do good, to act an upright part, is very little. This constitutes a part of the vain and empty system of human life. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work . The word rendered "right" is kishron (see on Ecclesiastes 2:21 ), and means rather "dexterity," "success." Kohe-leth says that he reflected upon the industry that men exhibit, and the skill and dexterity with which they ply their incessant toil. There is no reference to moral rectitude in the reflection, and the allusion to the ostracism of Aristides for being called "Just" overshoots the mark (see Wordsworth, in loc .).... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4

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