Ecclesiastes is a phonetic transliteration of the Greek word Ἐκκλησιαστής (Ekklesiastes), which in the Septuagint translates the Hebrew name of its stated author, Kohelet (קֹהֶלֶת). One man may get more real satisfaction out of a little than another man gets out of much. Ecclesiastes 11:4. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit; than large possessions gotten with a great deal of trouble, and enjoyed with much vexation and uneasiness; in which he mistakes slothful ease for true quietness; calls honest labour and industry travail and vexation; and supposes that true contentment lies in the enjoyment of little, and cannot be had where there is much; whereas it is to be found in a good man in every state: or else these words express the true sentiments of Solomon's mind, steering between the two extremes of slothfulness, and too toilsome labour to be rich; that it is much more eligible to have a competency, though it is but small, with a good conscience, with tranquillity of mind, with the love and fear of God, and a contented heart, than to have a large estate, with great trouble and fatigue in getting and keeping it, especially with discontent and uneasiness; and this agrees with what the wise man says elsewhere, Proverbs 15:16. Better (is) an handful (with) quietness, than both the hands full (with) travail. — Remember thy Creator, I say, before the silver cord be removed, and the golden pully hasteneth its motion, and the jar be dashed to pieces upon the well, and the conduit be broken, through which the water used to run into the cistern. The book of Ecclesiastes has long been my… The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. And so, this is the meaning of Ecclesiastes: We live in a broken world where life is confusing and chaotic, filled with things that seem satisfying but actually leave us empty, hurt, and/or angry. Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. It is well observed by an interpreter, that this sentence uttered by the sluggard, is, in its true meaning, not much different from that of the wise man in Proverbs 17:1, but ill applied by him. 1:2 no one to comfort them! In human life it often happens that a plus involves a minus; a gain in one direction means a loss in another. May 6, 2020 Apr 14, 2020 by Editor in Chief. "One hand full of rest"-"Better is a handful with rest, than both fists full of toil and chasing after wind" (Ber). One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. As everywhere, so also here it preserves the unity of the combination of thoughts. Information and translations of ecclesiastes in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. âa handful of repose, ⦠two handfuls of travail and feeding on wind.â, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. (Menochius). 6.Better is a handful, etc. He describes what awaits us in the grave. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 4:4-6 4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. But he wishes them to remember that, even if the times had been more prosperous, they themselves would not necessarily have been more happy. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had # Lam. It would be better to use of in place of “with,” and Hebrew usage would demand it — “handful of quietness,” “both the hands full of travail.”. Definition of ecclesiastes in the Definitions.net dictionary. Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature in regard to kind of a big picture of life. The meaning of Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 shows that Solomon is speaking of what awaits us after we die. Ecclesiastes 6 Commentary Summary Meaning Explained We’re starting in Ecclesiastes 6:1 for this Ecclesiastes 6 Commentary. To get what Ecclesiastes 4:6 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. by the bitter experience mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:4, to do well, and not to go beyond that which is strictly necessary. ×¢×× and רע×ת ר×× point back to Ecclesiastes 4:4. 6 Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then both the hands full with trauell and vexation of spirit. Hebrew; “One open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands full of travail.” “Quietness” (mental tranquillity flowing from honest labor), opposed to “eating one‘s own flesh” (Ecclesiastes 4:5), also opposed to anxious labor to gain (Ecclesiastes 4:8; Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:17; Proverbs 16:8). When a person is born, he is nothing, until the breath of life is breathed into him by God. “Rest” and “labour and windy effort” are the accusatives of that to which the designation of measure refers (Gesen. Find Top Church Sermons, Illustrations, and Preaching Slides on Ecclesiastes 4:6. (Haydock) (Proverbs xvii. Ecclesiastes 4:6, ESV: "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind." The striving of a man who laboriously seeks only himself and loses himself in restlessness, is truly a striving which has wind for its object, and has the property of wind. They will value contentment over grasping for more. Ecclesiastes definition is - a book of wisdom literature in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture. Men are warned, however. 9:11 Again I # ch. Ecclesiastes 12:6. Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12 Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness. It depends on what is in the hands. Your friends and loved ones’ envy and sometimes even despise you, when you are more successful than they are. These are the words of the fool, according to Aben Ezra; and which is the sense of other interpreters, particularly Mr. Broughton, who connects this verse with Ecclesiastes 4:5 by adding at the end of that the word "saying"; making an excuse or an apology for himself and conduct, from the use and profitableness of his sloth; that little had with ease, and without toil and labour, is much better. Browse Sermons on Ecclesiastes 4:6. Israel then had the hand full of rest: the heathen power, both fists full of travail. It is pitched in the same key as the maxim of the Apostle Paul: “Godliness with contentment is great gain”: and it reminds us of the still more inclusive maxim of our Lord Himself: “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (T. C. Two handfuls are not necessarily better than one. Happiness, in its degree and quality, varies with the man who enjoys, as welt as with the means of enjoyment. I believe that the same idea is found in 1 Timothy "when accompanied by contentment", and Proverbs 17:1 "Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife". — This verse confirms what has been said to the credit of the lazy man, and really assigns a reason for the statement of, in place of “with,” and Hebrew usage would demand it — “handful, "One hand full or rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind", John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary, Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible, Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ernst Hengstenberg on John, Revelation, Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel & Psalms. Then he becomes a living soul. But better than both is the one who … 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. This maxim of Ecclesiastes is well worth pondering. As everywhere, so also here it preserves the unity of the combination of thoughts. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Context. He directs their attention away from quantity to quality of possession. "Both fists full of, etc," is as much as "both fists full of good," which more carefully looked into, is after all only travail and empty effort. Plenty of people do not think there is much meaning to life. Better is an handful with quietness. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil … High popularity:210 searches a month. But it is an argument against that spirit of envious rivalry and selfish, restless ambition, which lessens the capacity, in the very act of increasing the means, of enjoyment. 3:16 saw all # ch. There are a lot of people for … The Targum is, "better to a man is a handful of food with quietness of soul, and without robbery and rapine, than two handfuls of food with robbery and rapine;'. Or. Ecclesiastes 6:4 "For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. " Taking the wisdom of the world, he pushes it to its logical end-points, which is what Francis Schaeffer did in his book The God Who is There . You do what you can, you get along, if you can make money fine, do whatever makes you happy because all too soon you will be old and youll be sick and you wont be able to enjoy life. "One hand full or rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind". But in order to get the significance of that verse and the section it’s in, we need to back up just a little. Ecclesiastes uses the absurdity of life to point to its meaning. They often become great and … Does it have meaning or not? Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit. “Better isan handful withquietness, than both the hands full withtravail and vexation of spirit.”. In my previous post I pointed to the "Wisdom" literature of the Old Testament (usually said to comprise Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes), suggesting that this is a good time for all of us to ingest some wisdom from those who went before. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit. 1 # ch. Ver. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. So he assumes a superficial naturalism, to wrong foot his readers in order to point to the deeper underlying truths of our existence. In a word, nahath has not here the sense of being idle or lazy. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Ecclesiastes 4:6, NIV: "Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." Many of us need to learn this lesson, to be grateful and appreciative for the handful that we do have and realize that the price of two handfuls might be less time with our mate, less time with our children and less time for God. 6. These are the words of the slothful, (Calmet) or of truth. {as Ecclesiastes 4:4} Is not a little with ease better? Solomon is saying, that many times with great wealth and success, goes much unhappiness. a penny by begging better than twopence by true labour? Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ver. See more. See the note on Ecclesiastes 12:2-3. In “and windy effort” lies the reason for the judgment pronounced. It depends also on what kind of man has the handful or handfuls. Ecclesiastes, (Preacher), an Old Testament book of wisdom literature that belongs to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the Ketuvim (Writings). 5:8; Job 35:9 the oppressions that are done under the sun. He that observeth the wind, shall not sow, &c. — He who neglects the necessary works of sowing and reaping, because the weather is not exactly suitable to his desires, will lose his harvest. --- The indolent will not observe moderation in the application of this sentence. Good words are not always to be trusted, from ill men especially. Zצckler agrees with Hitz., and lapses into the hypothesis of a dialogue otherwise rejected by him. Better is an handful with quietness.] If God is not placed first in every liaison that we human beings make (marriage, friendship, or church fellowship) the relationship will be short lived. Or the words may contain Solomon's reflection on the subject. Better is a handful with quietness, &c. — These are the words, either, 1st, Of the sluggard, making this apology for his idleness, that his little, with ease, is better than great riches got with much trouble; or, 2d, of Solomon, who elsewhere speaks to the same purpose, and here proposes this antidote against the vanity of immoderate cares and labours for worldly goods, against which he industriously directs his speech in divers places of this book, and particularly in the following passage. Instead of trying to seize control of the “hebel” all around us, we should instead focus our lives on fearing God and doing what is right. Life is hevel or vapor, according to the Book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 4:6. The Targum is, "better to a man is a handful of food with quietness of soul, and without robbery and rapine, than two handfuls of food with robbery and rapine;''. The last portion of the passage refers to a threefold cord. The “quietness” here spoken of is not the inactivity of sloth, but that restfulness of spirit which an industrious man may enjoy when his industry is pervaded by a cheerful contentment. One handful of grain is better than two handfuls of chaff. Meaning of ecclesiastes. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, , etc. would say, No, I dont think so. To what end, saith he, should a man toil and tire out himself with hard labour to compass commodity - making a drudge and a beast of himself for a little pelf, since he knows not who shall have the spending of it, and he is sure to be either squeezed by his superiors, {as Ecclesiastes 4:1} or else envied by his neighbours? Abbreviations: Eccles., Eccl. the post-bibl. Ecclesiastes is one of the favorite books of the Bible for skeptics, scoffers, atheists and certain of the cultists. Better â These are the words of the sluggard, making this apology for his idleness, That his little with ease, is better than great riches got with much trouble. 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. Hebrew, 'one open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands (fists) full of (what seems wealth, but which is really) travail.' The reason for that is that there are certain passages in this book which seem to deny that there is life after death, that it is all over when this life ends. Now, here is one of those maxims with which Ecclesiastes sought to comfort the hearts and to direct the conduct of his countrymen. It depends on whether the additional handful does not bring with it something else as well. ×Ö¼×£ is the open hollow hand, and ××¤× (Assyr. He summarizes how to avoid the influence of the corruption. "Quietness" (tranquillity flowing from moderate labour) is the happy mean between ruinous indolence on the one hand (Ecclesiastes 4:5), and laborious acquisition of wealth, and with it envy, on the other (Ecclesiastes 4:4 ; Proverbs 15:16-17; Proverbs 16:8). Title. connection lay here so much the nearer, as ××× is connected with the accus. Many of them might be disposed to murmur because the times were adverse to their acquisition of wealth. Those living by faith will face the pulls of the corruption and endeavor to resist them as they strive to live above-the-sun lives by faith. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. "The beautiful expression, a handful of quietness, manages to convey the twofold thought of modest demands and inward peace: and attitude as far removed from the fool"s selfish indolence as from the thruster"s scramble for pre-eminence" (Kidner p. 46). Ecclesiastes 4:6. Plenty of people, if you said to them, Is there a real, ultimate meaning to life? 4 ¶ Againe I considered all trauaile, and euery right worke, that for this a man is enuied of his neighbour: this is also vanitie, and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 4:6. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (Read Ecclesiastes 4:4-6) Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. ר×Ö¼× × ×ת, satisfaction, contentment, comfort. I say that a stillborn l child is better off than he. 5 The foole foldeth his hands together, and eateth his owne flesh. If one individual and another individual make a twofold cord, the threefold cord must have an additional element that we can infer to be God Almighty. Of Solomon, who elsewhere speaks to the same purpose, as Proverbs 15:16,17 17:1, and here proposeth it as a good antidote against the vanity of immoderate cares and labours for worldly goods, against which he industriously directs his speeches in divers places of this book; and particularly as a seasonable precaution against the sin of covetousness, of which he speaks in the following passage. This is the same exact case with Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes. The sequence of the thoughts is this: The fool in idleness consumes his own life-strength; but, on the other hand, a little of true rest is better than the labour of windy effort, urged on by rivalry yielding no rest. × ×ת signifies here, as little as it does anywhere else, the rest of sloth; but rest, in contrast to such activity in labour as robs a man of himself, to the hunting after gain and honour which never has enough, to the rivalry which places its goal always higher and higher, and seeks to be before others - it is rest connected with well-being (Ecclesiastes 6:5), gentle quietness (Ecclesiastes 9:17), resting from self-activity (Isaiah 30:15); cf. §118. — This verse confirms what has been said to the credit of the lazy man, and really assigns a reason for the statement of Ecclesiastes 4:5. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit. To make Israel content with its lot by laying bare the vanity of that which it was destitute of, but which the world possessed, is the usually misunderstood main drift of Ecclesiastes 4:4-6. of that with which anything is full. Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV - Better one handful with tranquillity - Bible Gateway. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. It is better to be happy with a little, than unhappy with much. Ecclesiastes definition, a book of the Bible. 1.) Mind. 2. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Context. 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