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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 4:5–7

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

12 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 5

  1. Isaiah 9:20Rank 1 from verse 5
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    20And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

  2. Proverbs 6:10–11Rank 2 from verse 5
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    10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

    11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

  3. Proverbs 13:4Rank 3 from verse 5
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    4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

  4. Job 13:14Rank 4 from verse 5
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    14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

  5. Proverbs 20:4Rank 5 from verse 5
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    4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

From verse 6

  1. Proverbs 15:16–17Rank 1 from verse 6
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    16Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

    17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

  2. Proverbs 16:8Rank 2 from verse 6
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    8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

  3. Psalms 37:16Rank 3 from verse 6
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    16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

  4. Proverbs 17:1Rank 4 from verse 6
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    1BETTER is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

From verse 7

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:1Rank 1 from verse 7
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    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.

  2. Psalms 78:33Rank 2 from verse 7
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    33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

  3. Zechariah 1:6Rank 3 from verse 7
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    6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 4:5

COMBINED MEANING

fool

↗

Sense 1: A person lacking wisdom or moral understanding. Sense 2: As a verb, to act foolishly or deceive.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

foldeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of fold, meaning to bend, wrap, or enclose by doubling.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hands

↗

Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eateth

↗

Third-person singular present form of eat, meaning to take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

flesh

↗

Sense 1: The soft substance of the body. Sense 2: The body, human nature, kindred, or mankind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 4:6

COMBINED MEANING

better

↗

Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hands

↗

Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

travail

↗

Sense 1: The painful labour and anguish of childbirth. Sense 2: To undergo such labour. Sense 3: Severe toil, trouble, sorrow, or suffering.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 4:7

COMBINED MEANING

returned

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of return, meaning to go, come, send, or give back; to restore, answer, or turn again.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vanity

↗

Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sun

↗

The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Ecclesiastes 4:4–8

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

4:4¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

4:5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Selected passage

4:6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Selected passage

4:7¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Selected passage

4:8There 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.

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