Ecclesiastes 4:8
Old Testament • 24 words with Strong's data
"There 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."
Word-by-Word Analysis
אֶחָד
ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
שֵׁנִי
shênîy
properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
לֹא
lôʼ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֶלֶד
yeled
something born, i.e. a lad or offspring
אָח
ʼâch
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
עוֹד
ʻôwd
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
קֵץ
qêts
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
עָמָל
ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
לֹא
lôʼ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַיִן
ʻayin
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
שָׂבַע
sâbaʻ
to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
לֹא
lôʼ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָמַר
ʼâmar
to say (used with great latitude)
עָמָל
ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
שָׁכֹל
shâkôl
properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)
נֶפֶשׁ
nephesh
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or menta...
טוֹב
ṭôwb
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good...
הֶבֶל
hebel
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
מְאֹד
mᵉʼôd
properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or ...
Key Terms in This Verse
שָׁכֹל shâkôl
properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)
Study H7921 →שָׂבַע sâbaʻ
to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
Study H7646 →הֶבֶל hebel
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
Study H1892 →עָמָל ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
Study H5999 →עָמָל ʻâmâl
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
Study H5999 →מְאֹד mᵉʼôd
properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)
Study H3966 →עַיִן ʻayin
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Study H5869 →Cross References
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in f...
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
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